Sky Sports delivered a comprehensive summary of Sunday’s Women’s Super League fixtures, highlighting Chelsea’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village – the first win of the season for the Blues and a stark illustration of the difficulties facing United’s new manager, Eva Olid, in her inaugural home match. Both clubs had failed to secure points during the opening weekend, but the gap between them widened dramatically on Sunday. Chelsea seized control from the first whistle, dictating tempo and creating chances at will. Their superiority was evident in the first half, where they built a comfortable lead thanks to a well‑taken finish from Sjoeke Nusken and a clinical strike by the ever‑reliable Keira Walsh, who curled a beautiful drive from just outside the penalty area into the top corner.
By the interval, the visitors were already cruising toward a dominant win. The second half saw no reduction in Chelsea’s intensity.
Lauren James, later named player of the match, extended the lead in the 61st minute with a composed finish after a swift build‑up. Just four minutes later, Ellie Carpenter added her name to the scoresheet, threading a low pass through United’s defense before slotting home. The final blow came in stoppage time when Lucy Bronze, a veteran presence in the midfield, capped the rout with a calm, measured finish that left the United goalkeeper with little chance. The 5-0 scoreline not only marked Chelsea’s first league triumph but also underscored the challenges that lie ahead for Olid, whose side must regroup before a demanding away fixture against Arsenal on Saturday.
In other WSL action, Manchester City remained the sole unbeaten side after a convincing 4-1 win over Aston Villa. Villa had impressed in the opening round by holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, but that resilience evaporated quickly in this match.
An early mistake from Chelsea’s Akane Okuma, who mis‑controlled a corner, allowed defender Jade Rose to capitalize and put the visitors ahead within the first 14 minutes. Mary Fowler then doubled the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Villa managed to claw back a goal just before halftime when debutant Amalie Vangsgaard found the net, offering a glimmer of hope.
The second half saw Villa push for an equaliser, only to see Khadija “Bunny” Shaw unleash a precise, 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 for City. Her shot, deflected off Mathilde Harviken, flew into the far corner in stoppage time, sealing a clinical display for the defending champions.
The win left City two points clear at the top of the table, the only team to maintain a perfect start to the season. Further down the table, newly promoted Crystal Palace earned a hard‑earned 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates, thanks largely to an inspired performance from France’s international goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud‑Magnin. Arsenal dominated possession, registering 30 attempts on goal – nine of them on target – but could not breach Palace’s defensive wall. The most promising chance fell to England striker Alessia Russo, who missed a clear‑cut opportunity just before half‑time after a superb left‑wing cross left her one‑on‑one with the keeper.
Brighton staged a dramatic comeback against fellow newcomers Birmingham, salvaging a 2-2 draw after trailing by two goals. Birmingham had taken the lead through Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite, who each scored before the hour mark. Brighton applied relentless pressure, and despite goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley’s series of impressive saves, the Blues finally found a lifeline when Olivia Garcia reacted quickest to a rebound and pulled one back with less than 15 minutes remaining. However, Baggaley’s error on the subsequent defensive clearance allowed Kiko Seike to slot home a tight‑angled finish, completing the comeback and denying Birmingham any points.
Charlton Athletic endured a painful defeat at Goodison Park, losing 1-0 to Everton after being reduced to nine players. The Addicks had already been forced to play with ten men when Ashleigh Neville received a straight red card for a high challenge on Ruby Mace. Later, Hawa Cissoko accumulated two yellow cards in quick succession during stoppage time, leaving Charlton with just nine on the field as the match concluded.
Everton’s lone goal came late when Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently turned into her own net by Leighanne Robe. The loss leaves Charlton, another newly promoted side, perched second from bottom, ahead of Manchester United only on goal difference.
At the Totally Wicked Stadium, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham Hotspur despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Tottenham took the lead just before half‑time when Signe Gaupset’s cross from the left byline deflected off Sam Kerr and looped over Liverpool goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Liverpool responded in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading in a near‑post finish to level the scores shortly before the hour mark.
Both sides continued to press for a winner, but the match ultimately ended in a stalemate, leaving Liverpool frustrated but still unbeaten. These results illustrate the early narrative of the 2024‑25 WSL season: Chelsea’s resurgence, Manchester City’s consistency, and the growing pains of newly promoted clubs striving to find their footing in a competitive league. The upcoming fixtures promise further intrigue as teams adjust tactics, integrate new signings, and chase the coveted top‑spot in one of Europe’s premier women’s football competitions.