Manchester City squandered a rare opportunity to close the gap on Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea as they were beaten by Everton, who claimed just their second league win of the season.
A day after Chelsea dropped their first points of the season in a 1-1 draw at bottom-side Leicester, Gareth Taylor’s City suffered a shock defeat to fall further behind Sonia Bompastor’s side.
First-half goals from Lucy Hope and Honoka Hayashi put Everton in control and City were unable to respond despite pulling one back late on through a Mary Fowler penalty. It was Everton’s first-ever win over City, in what was their 26th attempt.
Despite their draw at Leicester, Chelsea’s have opened up a six-point lead at the top of the table heading into the winter break, as the Blues chase a sixth title in a row.
City, who were without top scorer Khadija Shaw, travel to Barcelona in their final match of the Women’s Champions League group stage on Wednesday.
ElseAlessia Russo continued her fine form in front of goal as Arsenal took all three points in 1-0 victory at Liverpool.
The England star’s fifth goal in as many WSL games was enough to see Renee Slegers continue her unbeaten run as interim manager of the Gunners.
Slegers’ side were far from their free-flowing best but overcame Matt Beard’s hosts to move up to third in the table heading into the winter break.
Russo made the decisive breakthrough in the 20th minute after Katie McCabe’s low corner into the near post caught Liverpool’s back-line out.
Gemma Bonner managed to clear the ball off the line but only as far as Russo, who calmly passed it into the net.
England international Grace Clinton scored on the stroke of half-time to secure Manchester United a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
The visitors dominated from the off but could not find a breakthrough until the fifth minute of first-half added time.
Clinton capitalised on Palace’s mistakes to net the winner and ensure fourth-placed United kept pace with their rivals at the top of the table.
Palace remain rooted to the bottom with five points, though just one behind 11th-placed Leicester.
Adriana Leon’s first-half double helped Aston Villa to a 3-1 victory over her former side West Ham at Villa Park.
The game was Villa’s first WSL clash following the departure of manager Robert De Pauw earlier in the week and interim boss Shaun Goater got off to the perfect start when Canada international Leon put his side ahead four minutes in.
Their strong opening was short-lived after Viviane Asseyi equalised for the Hammers, but Leon completed her brace just before half-time and Kenza Dali struck in the final 10 minutes to put the result beyond doubt and earn Villa a second league win of the season.
Villa finish the weekend in seventh with nine points, while West Ham sit 10th with eight.
Includes reporting from PA