Chelsea dropped points at Liverpool allowing Manchester City to go second, while Barclays FA Women’s Super League leaders Arsenal won at a cost.
Barclays FA WSL results – 15 December
Everton 1-3 Arsenal (Att: 451)
Manchester City 5-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (Att: 1,173)
Birmingham City P-P Manchester United
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (Att: 540)
Reading 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Att: 715)
Bristol City P-P West Ham United
Liverpool deny Chelsea
Chelsea had to settle for just the point at Liverpool after going behind early on, the draw seeing the Reds climb off the foot of the table at Bristol City’s expense.
The Reds took a surprise lead in the fifth minute, Ann-Katrin Berger parrying a free-kick and Niamh Charles’ effort crawling into the far corner.
Fran Kitching made a good stop as Chelsea pressed for the equaliser but the goal did come seconds later, Beth England heading in Guro Reiten’s cross.
England glanced a great opportunity wide from right in front of goal and another header was block by Niamh Fahey.
Sophie Ingle nodded against the Reds post and Maran Mjelde’s free-kick clipped the bar, while Berger needed two attempts to grasp a Rinsola Babajide strike.
Gunners victory marred by Mead injury
Arsenal end 2019 as league leaders as Vivianne Miedema scored twice in a 3-1 victory at Everton but had Beth Mead stretchered off with a leg injury.
Miedema’s headed goal from Kim Little’s cross had the Gunners in front at the interval but two goals in quick succession before the hour mark made sure of the away win.
Little converted a 55th-minute penalty and Miedema got her second with a tap in, Chloe Kelly the reducing the arrears.
Five-goal Man City go second
Manchester City did not look back after an early goal, putting five past Brighton to go second in the table.
City were ahead inside 3 minutes from an indirect free-kick, Steph Houghton firing through players on the goal-line. Janine Beckie crossed for a fine Ellen White volleyed finish 10 mintes later.
Sophie Harris did very well to deny White but from the resulting corner Houghton headed back across goal and Lauren Hemp nodded home.
Ini Umotong had the ball in the net for Brighton but it was disallowed for a foul on Ellie Roebuck, after which Georgia Stanway made it 4-0 and substitute Pauline Bremer turned in Beckie’s cross.
Royals fightback to leapfrog Spurs
Reading came from a goal down to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 with two late goals and go above them into fifth place.
Tottenham’s Becky Spencer made a double-save to twice thwart Fara Williams and although Siri Worm curled in the opener for Spurs, Jo Potter levelled after a corner was spilled.
Remi Allen’s goal from close range had Reading 2-1 up in the 88th minute and Amalie Eikeland stayed composed to score on the counter-attack in the tenth minute of added time.
