Arsenal defeated Chelsea 4-1 in front of 59,042 to move level on points with them at the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Arsenal 4-1 Chelsea
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Leicester City
Liverpool 1-1 Bristol City
West Ham United 0-1 Everton
Tottenham Hotspur 0-4 Manchester United
Arsenal were the first side to defeat Chelsea this season but their margin of victory was not quite enough to replace them in pole position. Both sides scored in the first ten minutes, Victoria Pelova turning in the box to set up Beth Mead to fire into the roof of the net, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd beating Manuela Zinsberger on her near post to quickly equalise. Arsenal took control with two quick goals later in the half, Amanda Ilestedt heading home a Steph Catley corner and Alessia Russo receiving a ball over the top from Lia Walti to place past Ann-Katrin Berger. Emma Hayes side could not find a way back into the clash and Russo made sure of the win with a 72nd-minute penalty conceded by Berger.
Manchester United moved back to a point short of third-placed Manchester City with the win away to Spurs. Home forwards Martha Thomas and Beth England were denied in quick succession by Mary Earps and Maya le Tissier respectively, United taking the lead after half an hour as Melvine Malard just got a touch on a Hannah Blundell cross. They went two up early in the second half, Malard’s ball over the top met by Ella Toone and lifted over Becky Spencer. It was soon 3-0, Hayley Ladd’s strong run leading to a chance for Malard, who scored her second from the edge of the box. Ladd then found the net to make it 4-0.
Brighton retrieved a two-goal deficit at home to Leicester City to earn a 2-2 draw and remain within a point of their visitors. Lena Petermann made the breakthrough for the Foxes entering first-half stoppage-time, with an effort from outside the box after charging down an attempted clearance. Jutte Rantala doubled the advantage moments after the interval, from a Sam Tierney ball. Brighton gave themselves hope with eight minutes left of the ninety, Elisabeth Terland set up by Maria Thorisdóttir to score, Terland netting again with a header from Poppy Pattinson’s cross. City keeper Janina Leitzig turned a Pauline Bremer shot into the side-netting in the last second.
Basement side Bristol City earned a precious point away to fifth-placed Liverpool, who had to come from behind to rescue a point. Bristol took the lead five minutes into the second half, Liverpool unable to clear a cross and Abi Harrison’s drive diverted into the net by Amalie Thestrup. Sophie Roman Haug headed the Reds level before the hour mark from Ashley Hinds’ corner. City keeper Liv Clark turned Missy Bo Kearns’ stoppage-time strike round the post to keep the visitors on level terms.
Everton moved up to seventh with the only goal of the game at West Ham, who slip to the foot of the table on goal-difference. The Toffees went ahead after 63 minutes, substitute Karen Holmgaard heading in a delivery from Sara Holmgaard.
