Sky Sports recapped Sunday’s Women's Super League action, highlighting Chelsea's first victory of the campaign – a 5-0 demolition of Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village. Both clubs had failed to secure a win during the opening weekend, but it was the visitors who imposed their will from the first whistle, delivering a harsh lesson for new United manager Eva Olid in her inaugural home fixture. Chelsea entered the break with a comfortable lead, thanks to clinical finishes from Sjoeke Nusken and the ever-impressive Keira Walsh, who struck a beautifully placed shot from just outside the box. The second half saw the Blues maintain their dominance, adding goals from player-of-the-match Lauren James in the 61st minute, Ellie Carpenter five minutes later, and a final flourish from Lucy Bronze with the last kick of the game.
United’s quest for their first league win now continues, with a demanding away match against Arsenal looming on Saturday. In other WSL news, Manchester City remained the only side unbeaten after the second round of fixtures, edging Aston Villa 4-1. Villa had impressed by holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw in the opening week, but their resilience crumbled within 14 minutes of the second match. Akane Okuma’s errant clearance from a corner allowed defender Jade Rose to head the ball past her, giving City the lead.
Mary Fowler doubled the advantage with a powerful strike from the edge of the area. Villa fought back before halftime, with debutant Amalie Vangsgaard netting to halve the deficit. The second half featured more drama.
After a missed chance that struck the post, Khadija Bunny Shaw displayed clinical composure, finishing a well‑worked move with a delicate dinked finish after winning the ball high up the pitch. Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement by assisting Shaw, later added a fourth goal in stoppage time; her shot deflected off Mathilde Harviken before finding the far corner, sealing a comprehensive display for Andree Jeglertz's side.
The victory pushed the defending champions two points clear at the summit, the only team still boasting a perfect start. Further down the table, France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin shone for newly promoted Crystal Palace in a 0-0 stalemate at the Emirates against Arsenal.
The home side unleashed a staggering 30 attempts, nine on target, yet could not breach the French shot‑stopper, who joined the Gunners on loan last summer. Arsenal's best opportunity came from England international Alessia Russo nine minutes before the break; a superb left‑wing cross found her, but her finishing radar seemed off, as she sent the ball wide of a gaping net. Brighton staged a dramatic comeback against newly promoted Birmingham, ending 2-2 thanks to a last‑minute strike from Kiko Seike. Birmingham had appeared set for three points after Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite gave them a 2-0 lead by the 60th minute.
The Seagulls applied relentless pressure, and although former Brighton keeper Sophie Baggaley produced a series of impressive saves to keep her side in the game, defensive lapses in the final fifteen minutes proved costly. Olivia Garcia recovered a rebound to pull one back, but a subsequent Seike effort from a tight angle slipped under the goalkeeper, completing the equaliser and denying the visitors all three points. Charlton Athletic endured a tumultuous encounter at Goodison Park, finishing with nine players after a 1-0 loss to Everton. After a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the opening week, the Addicks showed marked improvement against their Merseyside rivals but ultimately succumbed to late pressure.
Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently turned into her own net by Leighanne Robe, sealing the defeat with less than 15 minutes remaining. The setback came after Charlton had already been reduced to ten following a straight red card for Ashleigh Neville’s high challenge on Ruby Mace. The situation worsened when Hawa Cissoko received two yellow cards in quick succession during stoppage time, leaving the team with just nine players at the final whistle.
The loss leaves the newly promoted side second from bottom, ahead of Manchester United only on goal difference. At the Totally Wicked Stadium, Liverpool were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Tottenham Hotspur despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Tottenham took the lead against the run of play when Signe Gaupset delivered a cross from the left byline that deflected off Sam Kerr before looping over goalkeeper Khiara Keating just before half‑time. Liverpool responded in the second half, with Gareth Taylor’s side continuing to press and eventually equalising through Aurelie Csillag’s near‑post header shortly before the hour mark.
Although Liverpool pushed for a winner, they were unable to find a decisive goal, settling for a point. These results illustrate the early narrative of the 2024‑25 Women's Super League season: Chelsea establishing themselves as a potent attacking force, Manchester City maintaining an unbeaten record, and several newly promoted clubs experiencing the growing pains of top‑flight football. As the calendar progresses, upcoming fixtures such as United’s clash with Arsenal and the continued battles for European qualification spots promise further excitement and shifting dynamics within the league.