Chelsea briefly went top of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League with victory over Manchester City but Arsenal ended the day back in pole position.
Barclays FA WSL results – 8 December
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City (Att: 3,498)
Manchester United 3-1 Everton (Att: 1,805)
Liverpool 1-1 West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (Att: 571)
Reading 0-3 Arsenal (Att: 943)
Bristol City 0-2 Birmingham City (Att: 404)
Chelsea leapfrog Man City
Chelsea fought back to see off title rivals Manchester City 2-1 with two efforts in the last dozen minutes
City keeper Ellie Roebuck denied Beth England in the first half and Chelsea’s Maren Mjelde hit the bar from over 25 yards out.
Ji So-yun shot against the post for the hosts before Keira Walsh set up Caroline Weir to fire home around the hour mark.
Roebuck protected City’s lead when saving from Ramona Bachmann but despite also keeping out Ji’s effort, Beth England netted the rebound.
Three minutes later and there was a second goal on the follow-up, England this time thwarted but not so Mjelde.
Gunners end day back on top
Arsenal briefly surrendered top spot due to their later kick off but reclaimed the leadership with all three goals at Readimg.
The Gunners overcame an untidy start to lead 2-0 at half-time, Vivianne Miedema curling in the first goal after a Danielle van de Donk pass.
Kim Little twice exchanged passes after a corner before controlling the ball from Jordan Nobbs and volleying home.
Van de Donk hit the post and Grace Moloney had to turn a Jill Roord strike over the bar but the Royals keeper was beaten by Miedema’s stoppage-time lob.
James helps Man United jump above Everton
Manchester United overtook Everton and went fourth when coming from behind to record a 3-1 victory, Lauren James bagging a brace and winning a penalty.
A Simone Magill connection from a corner forced a Mary Earps own-goal in the opening moments but United were ahead just 10 minutes later, as Lauren James turned in a Jess Sigsworth cross and then won a penalty which Katie Zelem tucked away.
James made it 3-1 almost on half-time, firing past Tinja Korpela from the edge of the box into the far corner.
Everton rarely threatened to reduce the arrears after the break, although Millie Turner had to head off her own goal-line.
Reds record second point
Liverpool earned a precious point in a 1-1 tie at home to West Ham, as they scored their first goal from open play this season.
Adriana Leon scored for the Hammers with a deflected effort just 5 minutes in following good work from Cecilie Kvamme.
Mel Lawley put a second-half penalty wide for the Reds after a foul on Rhiannon Roberts but somewhat redeemed herself by setting up the 77th-minute equaliser for Niamh Charles.
Neville nets for Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur moved into the top half of the table with a narrow win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Victoria Williams had done well to deflect a Rianna Dean effort over the tbe crossbar but could do little to prevent Ashleigh Neville’s close-range effort going in, after Megan Walsh parried the initial effort.
Birmingham win at Bristol
Birmingham City secured an important three points away at Bristol City in a crucial clash of the two sides just above the drop zone.
Bristol City were behind early on as Lucy Whipp gave Birmingham City a perfect start.
The Blues got their second midway through the second period when an Abbi Grant’s strike from outsude the box was fumbled into the net by Sophie Baggaley.
