Arsenal moved two points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League with a 3-0 win over Reading after Chelsea beat Manchester City for their 10th victory of the season.
Vivianne Miedema, who scored a sensational double hat-trick in last week’s record-breaking 11-1 win over Bristol City, was back on the scoresheet once again, flicking the ball over Grace Moloney with Arsenal’s first real chance after 28 minutes.
And nine minutes later Kim Little doubled the advantage with a lobbed finish following a corner. Danielle Van De Donk headed against a post before Miedema wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time, lobbing Moloney for her 12th of the season.
Chelsea came from behind to beat City 2-1, finding a way to unlock a defence which had previously conceded only one goal all season by scoring twice in three minutes late on.
Chelsea had hit the crossbar through Maren Mjelde and a post through Ji So-yun, so it was against the run of play when Caroline Weir turned in Keira Walsh’s cross to give City a 58th minute lead.
But Chelsea levelled with 11 minutes remaining, Beth England following up after Ellie Roebuck kept out Ji’s header, and Mjelde scored a slightly fortunate but deserved winner two minutes later when the ball struck her after England’s strike was blocked.
The win leaves Chelsea two points behind Arsenal but up to second, one point better off than City who had started the day level on points with the Gunners.
Lauren James was the star of the show as Manchester United came from behind to beat Everton 3-1.
The visitors led just two minutes in when Mary Earps appeared to punch a corner into her own net, but moments later James turned in Jess Sigsworth’s cross.
United led after James was fouled in the box by Megan Finnigan and Katie Zelem fired in the penalty, before James made it 3-1 with a fine strike just before half-time.
Liverpool’s first goal from open play this season was enough to earn the league’s bottom side only their second point of the campaign with a 1-1 draw against West Ham.
The visitors had led through Adriana Leon’s scuffed shot, fumbled by Liverpool goalkeeper Fran Kitching, in just the fifth minute.
Mel Lawley then missed a penalty but redeemed herself by sending in the cross which Niamh Charles turned in 13 minutes from time.
Tottenham moved up to sixth with a 1-0 win over Brighton courtesy of Ashleigh Neville’s 57th-minute goal, while Birmingham won 2-0 at Bristol City with goals in either half from Lucy Whipp and Abbi Grant.
