Chelsea inflicted Manchester United with their first WSL defeat of the season with a polished 3-1 win at Leigh Sports Village.
Sam Kerr, Lauren James and Erin Cuthbert grabbed the goals as Emma Hayes’ visitors moved three points clear of the Red Devils and into second in the table. England ace Alessia Russo pulled one back for Marc Skinner’s hosts but the defending champions held on to clinch a pivotal three points and haul themselves level with unbeaten with Arsenal at the summit.
Kerr fired past England goalkeeper Mary Earps to open the scoring on the hour mark - the first goal United had conceded this season - after a sloppy passage of play from United. And the Australian ace then assisted former United striker James as she doubled their advantage just four minutes later.
Russo, one of the stars of Sarina Wiegman’s Euro 2022-winning side, netted for United but Scottish star Cuthbert re-established Chelsea ’s two-goal advantage in stoppage time to secure an impressive three points for the Blues on the road.
Earlier in the day, Frida Maanum's fourth goal in five games helped Arsenal maintain their perfect start to the season with an emphatic 4-0 win against Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Maanum put the Gunners ahead in the 13th minute with a brilliant finish using the outside of her right boot.
And Jonas Eidevall's side were 2-0 up nine minutes later when Caitlin Foord got on the end of Beth Mead's cross to fire home from close range. The Gunners scored their third thanks to Steph Catley, who netted directly from a corner eight minutes before the break.
And within three minutes of the two teams coming back out for the second half, Arsenal were 4-0 up. Stina Blackstenius went around Foxes keeper Kirstie Levell to fire the ball into an empty net and seal a sixth win in six WSL games for the Gunners.
Elsewhere, Danielle Carter's double was the difference in a nine-goal thriller that saw Brighton beat West Ham 5-4. The Seagulls were 3-1 up at half-time despite suffering the worst possible start to the game.
Lisa Evans scored to put hosts West Ham ahead with a cross-turned-shot that got the better of Brighton keeper Megan Walsh. However, Carter took advantage of an error from Hammers goalkeeper Sophie Hillyerd to equalise before providing the assist for Veatriki Sarri, who put Brighton in front.
Carter's penalty made it 3-1, but after the break, Victoria Williams' own goal gave the Hammers hope of getting back into the game. Goals from Elisabeth Terland and Jorja Fox made it 5-2, but a frantic finale ten minutes saw Viviane Asseyi score twice to make the visitors sweat.
At the Madejski, two own goals from Reading captain Emma Mukandi helped Manchester City to their third win in a row. Lauren Hemp's cross was turned towards goal by Mukandi in the 53rd minute to put City ahead.
Mukandi's second error came when Hemp sent in another dangerous ball. Royals goalkeeper Jackie Burns was able to push Hemp's cross away, but it ricocheted off the defender's thigh and into the net. Bunny Shaw grabbed her seventh goal in six games with a powerful header from Mary Fowler's cross to wrap up the win.
And Rachel Daly's second-half penalty was the difference as Aston Villa beat Liverpool 1-0 at Prenton Park. Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws brought down Kirsty Hanson inside the box in the 57th minute.
And Daly held her nerve, firing the ball straight down the middle and past Hanson from the spot. Villa boss Carla Ward praised the professionalism of her side.
She said: "There has been a lot of noise off the pitch but you wouldn't know it with these players. "They are professional, turn up and get the job done. We said all week it might be an ugly game and we needed to make sure we came away with the points."
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