Sky Sports delivered a comprehensive recap of Sunday’s Women’s Super League fixtures, highlighting Chelsea’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village – the first triumph of the season for the Blues and a harsh introduction for United’s new manager Eva Olid. Both sides entered the weekend without a win after the opening round of matches, yet it was the visitors who seized control from the opening whistle. Chelsea’s attacking fluency was evident throughout, and the result underscored the difficulties United will face as they adapt to Olid’s tactical demands. By halftime, the scoreline already read comfortably in Chelsea’s favour thanks to a well‑timed strike from Sjoeke Nusken and a superbly executed finish by Keira Walsh, who curled a precise drive from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner.
The second half saw the home side maintain their dominance, adding three more goals to complete the rout. Lauren James, who was later named player of the match, extended the lead in the 61st minute with a composed finish. Ellie Carpenter followed just four minutes later, tapping in a quick‑fire response to keep United on the back foot.
The final nail in the coffin came in stoppage time when Lucy Bronze slotted home a calm finish, sealing a comprehensive victory for Chelsea. Manchester United’s quest for their inaugural league win this campaign continues, with a daunting away fixture against Arsenal looming on Saturday. The loss serves as a stark reminder of the work required to close the gap with the league’s elite. In other WSL action, Manchester City remained the sole team with a perfect record after a convincing 4-1 win over Aston Villa.
Villa had impressed in the opening weekend by drawing 1-1 with Chelsea, but their resilience unraveled within the first quarter‑hour of the second match. Akane Okuma, who had been a hero at Stamford Bridge, made a costly error when she failed to clear a corner, allowing defender Jade Rose to head the ball past her and give City the lead.
City’s momentum continued as Mary Fowler struck from the edge of the box to double the advantage. Villa managed to claw back a glimmer of hope before the break when debutant Amalie Vangsgaard found the net, reducing the deficit to 2-1 at halftime. The second half saw Villa push for an equaliser, but their attempts were thwarted when a shot hit the post.
Khadija Bunny Shaw then demonstrated her clinical instincts, collecting a high ball and finishing with a deft dink that restored City’s two‑goal cushion. Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement by assisting Shaw’s strike, later added a fourth goal in stoppage time. Her shot deflected off Mathilde Harviken before rattling the far corner, completing a clinical display orchestrated by manager Andrée Jeglertz. City’s victory extended their lead at the summit to two points, cementing their status as the only side still unbeaten.
Further down the table, newly promoted Crystal Palace held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates, thanks largely to an inspired performance from French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud‑Magnin. Arsenal unleashed a staggering 30 attempts, nine of which were on target, yet they could not breach the Palace net. The most promising chance fell to England forward Alessia Russo, who missed a clear‑cut opportunity just before halftime, firing wide after a superb left‑wing cross. In the south coast, Brighton staged a dramatic comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against fellow newcomers Birmingham.
Birmingham had taken a 2-0 lead by the 60th minute through well‑timed finishes from Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite. Brighton applied relentless pressure, and although goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley kept Birmingham in the game with a series of impressive saves, defensive lapses proved costly. Olivia Garcia capitalised on a rebound to pull Brighton level, and in the dying minutes Kiko Seike struck from a tight angle, slipping the ball under Baggaley to secure a point for the Seagulls. Charlton Athletic endured a dramatic reduction to nine players in their match at Goodison Park, ultimately losing 1-0 to Everton.
After a heavy 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the opening round, Charlton showed signs of improvement against their Merseyside rivals but fell victim to a late own‑goal. Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently redirected into her own net by Leighanne Robe with less than 15 minutes remaining.
The setback came after Charlton had already been reduced to ten players when Ashleigh Neville received a straight red card for a high challenge on Ruby Mace. Further compounding their woes, Hawa Cissoko collected two yellow cards in quick succession during stoppage time, leaving the Addicks with only nine men at the final whistle. The loss consigns Charlton to second‑from‑bottom in the table, just ahead of Manchester United on goal difference.
At the Totally Wicked Stadium, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Tottenham Hotspur despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Tottenham seized the initiative when Signe Gaupset delivered a cross from the left byline that deflected off Sam Kerr and looped over goalkeeper Khiara Keating just before half‑time. Liverpool responded in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading in a near‑post finish to level the scores shortly before the hour mark. Although Liverpool pressed for a winner, they were unable to break through, settling for a point.
Overall, Sunday’s fixtures showcased the competitive depth of the WSL, with established powers reinforcing their dominance and newly promoted sides delivering spirited performances. The league continues to captivate fans with its blend of technical skill, tactical battles, and dramatic moments, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.