Matchday nine of the WSL sees all sides in action on Sunday.
Here’s what happened.
Chelsea hold out to take three points from Brighton
Scorers: Nรผsken 35, Beever-Jones 40′, Rytting Kaneryd 51′;ย ฤankoviฤ 44′, Seike 71′
Chelsea continued their 100% winning record with a 4-2 win over Brighton, but the Seagulls made them work for the three points.
Sonia Bompastor’s side were pressing high to find the opener, Sjoeke Nรผsken’s aggressive play saw her steal the ball from a Brighton goal-kick before slotting home to put her side ahead.
Brighton were once again caught playing out from the back when Aggie Beever-Jones stole the ball directly from goalkeeperย Sophie Baggaley and saw the ball trickle over the line.
The Seagulls got one back before half-time when former Chelsea midfielderย Jelena ฤankoviฤ evaded the backline inside the box and smashed her finish into the top corner.
In the second half the Blues restored their cushion when Lucy Bronze’s initial shot was saved by Baggaley, and then rebounded offย Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and into the back of the net.
Yet Brighton were not about to give up, and this time their high press paid off as Hannah Hampton’s goal kick was deflected toย Kiko Seike, who kept her composure to put her foot on the ball and deliver a finish that Chelsea could do nothing to stop.
Hampton had to be on top form to stop the visitors from drawing level, but as the minutes ticked awayย Nรผsken sneaked the ball in at the near post from a corner to deliver all three points.
Brighton now drop to fifth, below Man Utd, while Chelsea remain in top spot with nine wins from nine.
Arsenal rout Aston Villa
Scorers: Russo 17′, 90+4′, Mead 38′, Blackstenius 70′
Arsenal heaped further misery on Aston Villa with a 4-0 home win over the Midlands side.
The Gunners got off to a flyer when a free-kick near the touchline was launched into the box by Kyra Cooney-Cross, for Alessia Russo to find the back of the net with a looping back-header.
And interim boss Renรฉe Slegers saw her side 2-0 up before half-time, when some slick passing football culminated in Frida Maanum striking the post with her attempt, followed by a quick reaction from Beth Mead to net the rebound.
Into the second half and perfectly-weighted through ball from Katie McCabe was poked home by Stina Blackstenius for her second of the WSL campaign.
Russo added her second deep into stoppage time with a sublime turn and finish to seal the three points.
Arsenal are now up to third in the table, having leapfrogged Manchester United with that win.
Hammers unlikely comeback sees off Palace
Scorers: Gejl 5′, Riley 11′; Asseyi 17′, Piubel 36′, Pavรญ 44′, Denton 82′, Gorry 90+2
West Ham mounted an astonishing comeback to win 5-2 against Crystal Palace.
The Eagles’ movement had caught West Ham flat-footed from the get-go when Millie Gejl slotted home after just five minutes.
One soon became two as Indiah-Paige Riley managed to stay on her feet and get her shot away, as it rolled under West Ham stopperย Kinga Szemik.
It wasn’t long before the Hammers regained their composure, andย Seraina Piubel got in front of her marker to cross for strikerย Viviane Asseyi to net her second of the season.
Piubel turned from provider to goal scorer just under 20 minutes later, as an almost identical run down the right-hand side led her to go for the shot instead of the cross as she put her side back on level terms.
By half-time, West Ham had completely turned the game around as Manuela Pavรญ skipped around diving Palace goalkeeperย Shae Yaรฑez before tapping a neat finish into the back of the net.
The points were sealed when a tired-looking Palace side were retreating back in defence, leaving a gap for Anouk Denton to curl a top-quality finish beyondย Yaรฑez.
In stoppage time,ย Rehanne Skinner’s side really slammed the result home as Australia internationalย Katrina Gorry netted the fifth in injury time.
That win was West Ham’s second of the season, lifting them slightly above the struggling pack at the bottom of the table, while Palace sit joint-bottom alongside Leicester.
Dominant Man Utd demolish Liverpool
Scorers: Terland 32′, Galton 34′, Janssen 60′, Malard 81′
Manchester United were in fine form as they blew Liverpool away with a 4-0 win at Leigh Sports Village.
The home side were starting to get on top just as the half hour mark approached, and they had the breakthrough when Elisabeth Terland’s effort from inside the box punished Liverpool for being caught in possession in a dangerous area.
And just two minutes later, Marc Skinner’s side had doubled their advantage as Leah Galton raced onto a long ball forward and delivered a powerful left-footed finish beyond
Into the second half, and Man Utd bagged another when Dominique Janssen scored her first for the club with an effort from just outside the box.
Janssen then turned provider, as her cross allowed substitute Melvine Malard to deliver a top class finish at the far post.
That result heaps on the misery for a Liverpool side who have now lost three in a row, and taken just nine points from their opening nine WSL games.
England gives Spurs win over struggling Everton
Scorers: England 25′, 48′ (PEN); Holmgaard 40′
A Bethany England brace saw Tottenham run out 2-1 winners over Everton
England opened the scoring for Tottenham as she tapped home from close range from a corner.
But Everton hit back on the break, as Sara Holmgaard opted to shoot from just outside the box, her stunning finish putting the visitors back on level terms.
Spurs rectified that shortly after half-time when Heather Payne fouled Amanda Nildรฉn in the box, and England stepped up to convert the penalty.
That leaves Everton with only six points from their opening nine games.
Shaw brace steers City to big win over Leicester
Scorers: Shaw 2′, 29′, Park 49′, Fowler 58′
Manchester City were in rampant mood as they delivered a 4-0 home win over Leicester.
It took just two minutes for Bunny Shaw to give Man City the lead, as she headed home from a looping Kerstin Casparij cross.
Shaw’s second came courtesy of another header, and Jess Park made it 3-0 with a rising effort from inside the box shortly after the teams came out for the second half.
City were having fun as they relentlessly attacked, and Mary Fowler added to their tally with a superbly-hit volley beyond goalkeeperย Janina Leitzig.
Gareth Taylor’s side have now won seven of their opening nine WSL matches this season.
The next WSL fixture is on Saturday, when Leicester host Chelsea in a lunchtime kick-off.
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