Sky Sports summed up Sunday’s Women's Super League fixtures, highlighting Chelsea’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village – the Blues’ first win of the campaign and a stark reminder of the challenges facing new United manager Eva Olid. Both sides had failed to secure points in the opening round, but it was Chelsea who imposed their will from the first whistle, delivering a masterclass in attacking football and defensive solidity that left United reeling in Olid’s inaugural home match.
The first half unfolded as a showcase for Chelsea’s offensive firepower. Early pressure paid off when Sjoeke Nusken found the back of the net with a well‑timed finish, setting the tone for what would become a dominant display. Just minutes later, the ever‑reliable Keira Walsh added a second goal, striking from the edge of the box with a crisp, low‑driven shot that left the United keeper with no chance. By the break, the visitors were comfortably in control, having built a two‑goal cushion that allowed them to dictate the tempo of the game.
Chelsea continued their relentless assault after the interval, extending their lead with a series of clinical finishes. Lauren James, who was later named player‑of‑the‑match, doubled the tally in the 61st minute, weaving past defenders before slotting home a composed finish. Five minutes later, Ellie Carpenter added her name to the scoresheet, capitalising on a swift counter‑attack and firing a precise strike into the top corner.
The final blow came in stoppage time when Lucy Bronze, one of the most experienced players in the league, capped off the rout with a calm finish that sealed the 5-0 result. Manchester United’s quest for their first league win now heads into a daunting away fixture against Arsenal on Saturday, a match that will test Olid’s tactical adjustments and the squad’s resilience after such a heavy defeat. The loss also underscores the steep learning curve for a manager taking over a side in transition, especially when facing a Chelsea side that combined technical brilliance with physical intensity.
In other WSL action, Manchester City remained the only team with a perfect record after a 4-1 triumph over Aston Villa. Villa had impressed by holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw in the opening weekend, but their defensive resolve crumbled within the first 14 minutes of the second‑round clash. Akane Okuma, a hero of Stamford Bridge, mis‑judged a corner, allowing defender Jade Rose to head the ball home for City. Mary Fowler then doubled the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, putting City firmly in command.
Aston Villa managed to pull one back before halftime when Amalie Vangsgaard, on her debut, scored a well‑placed finish that reduced the deficit to 2-0. The second half saw Villa push for an equaliser, hitting the post early on, but Khadija "Bunny" Shaw responded with a deft, dinked finish after winning the ball high up the pitch, restoring City’s two‑goal cushion. Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement, provided an assist for Shaw's goal and later added a fourth for City with a deflected shot that looped into the far corner in stoppage time. The win extended the defending champions’ lead at the top of the table, giving them a two‑point advantage over their rivals.
Further down the standings, newly promoted Crystal Palace held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates, thanks largely to an inspired performance from France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud‑Magnin. Arsenal dominated possession, registering 30 attempts on goal, nine of which were on target, yet they could not breach Palace’s defensive wall.
The most promising chance fell to England striker Alessia Russo, who missed a golden opportunity nine minutes before the break, firing wide after a superb left‑wing cross. Brighton staged a dramatic comeback against fellow newcomers Birmingham, salvaging a 2-2 draw after being two goals down. Birmingham had taken the lead through Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite, who scored before the hour mark. However, Brighton applied relentless pressure, and despite goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley making several key saves, Birmingham’s defence faltered in the final 15 minutes.
Olivia Garcia capitalised on a rebound to pull Brighton level, and Kiko Seike completed the comeback with a tightly angled finish that slipped under the goalkeeper, ensuring a point for the Seagulls. At Goodison Park, Charlton Athletic were reduced to nine players in a 1-0 loss to Everton. After a heavy 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the opening weekend, Charlton showed improvement but ultimately succumbed to late pressure.
Holly McNamara delivered a cross that was inadvertently turned into her own net by Leighanne Robe, giving Everton the decisive goal. The match was further marred by disciplinary issues: Ashleigh Neville received a straight red card for a high challenge on Ruby Mace, and Hawa Cissoko accumulated two yellows in stoppage time, leaving Charlton with only nine men at the final whistle.
The defeat leaves the newly promoted side second from bottom, ahead of Manchester United only on goal difference. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw at the Totally Wicked Stadium, despite Liverpool's dominance.
Tottenham took the lead just before half‑time when Signe Gaupset’s cross was deflected off Sam Kerr and looped over goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Liverpool responded in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading home from close range to level the score. Both sides created numerous chances, but neither could find a winner, resulting in a point each. Overall, the second round of WSL fixtures delivered a mix of dominant performances, surprising comebacks, and hard‑learned lessons for teams still finding their footing.
Chelsea’s five‑goal demolition of Manchester United highlighted their attacking depth and tactical cohesion, while Manchester City continued to set the benchmark for consistency. Meanwhile, the struggles of newly promoted clubs such as Crystal Palace, Birmingham, and Charlton underscore the competitive gap that still exists in the top flight, promising an intriguing remainder of the season as teams adapt and strive for improvement.