Manchester United broke their early‑season slump in the Women's Super League with a 2-1 triumph over West Ham United at Leigh Sports Village, marking their inaugural win of the 2026/27 campaign. Coach Eva Olid, whose side had managed only a solitary point from the first three fixtures, saw her players seize the initiative within the opening ten minutes. A well‑timed cross from Anna Sandberg found Elisabeth Terland, who guided the ball with a precise header that slipped past the defense untouched, giving United the early lead.
The advantage could have been doubled before the half‑time whistle, but West Ham’s goalkeeper Constance Picaud produced a spectacular save, deflecting Hanna Lundkvist’s powerful header over the cross‑bar in the final moments of the first half. United emerged from the break with renewed vigor, creating three clear chances in a span of three minutes. Andrea Medina’s effort rattled the bar, Jess Park’s strike drifted wide, and Terland forced another fingertip save from Picaud, underscoring United’s attacking intent. West Ham struggled to find a foothold in the game, with their first on‑target attempt arriving only after the hour mark.
Estelle Cascarino broke through the midfield, unleashed a dipping drive that forced United’s new signing Phallon Tullis‑Joyce to scramble and tip the ball over the bar. The visitors continued to press, and with just 18 minutes remaining, Medina capitalised on a perfectly weighted pass from Park. After her initial shot was blocked, she reacted swiftly, slotting the rebound home to make the score 2-0. The home side’s clean‑sheet hopes were shattered moments later when Viviane Asseyi earned a penalty after being tripped by Sandberg inside the box.
She calmly dispatched the spot‑kick into the bottom left corner, reducing the deficit to one goal and keeping West Ham in the contest until the final whistle. In other league action, Chelsea extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches with a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in a London derby at Stamford Bridge.
The streak, which comprises ten wins and two draws, dates back to 8 February and effectively ended Arsenal’s own 23‑game unbeaten run that spanned almost a full year. Arsenal dominated much of the first half, with Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey both seeing their efforts rebound off the woodwork, yet they failed to register a single shot on target before the break.
Chelsea took the lead late in the first half when Keira Walsh unleashed a 20‑yard effort that was parried by Arsenal’s Anneke Borbé. Alyssa Thompson reacted quickest, tapping the rebound high into the net to give the Blues the advantage. Arsenal manager Renee Slegers introduced attacking options Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius in an attempt to revive her side’s fortunes, but the changes proved insufficient.
The Gunners have now gone three league games without a win and sit seven points behind leaders Manchester City. Further down the table, Liverpool secured a historic 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield, delivering the club’s first WSL Merseyside derby victory on home soil.
Prior to this match, Liverpool had suffered eight defeats in nine WSL fixtures at Anfield, five of which were at the hands of Everton. The Reds opened the scoring early, with Beata Olsson heading in a looping ball in the fourth minute. Liverpool pressed for a second goal throughout the game, but Everton’s defensive midfielder Ruby Mace thwarted several attempts, including a crucial block on Natalia Ramos’ strike and a clearance of Cornelia Kapocs’ effort off the line.
Kapocs eventually broke the deadlock for Everton, sweeping home the equaliser with just under five minutes remaining, but Liverpool’s early lead proved decisive. The victory not only broke a long‑standing hoodoo for Liverpool but also demonstrated their growing confidence in the top flight. Tottenham Hotspur delivered a dominant second‑half display against Aston Villa, cruising to a 4-0 victory that kept them within striking distance of league leaders Manchester City. The win lifted Spurs to ten points from four matches, narrowing the gap to just two points.
Villa, positioned 13th, managed to keep Tottenham at bay in the first half, but the floodgates opened after Victoria Pelova’s 54th‑minute opener. The 27‑year‑old doubled the lead with a curling finish shortly thereafter. Caitlin Dijkstra added a back‑post header, and Cathinka Tandberg capitalised on the rebound to seal a comprehensive win.
Newly promoted Birmingham City continued their search for a maiden WSL win, salvaging a point in a high‑scoring 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at St Andrew’s. Suzu Amano, introduced from the bench, netted a deflected equaliser in the 87th minute, ensuring Birmingham earned their second point of the season. The Blues had looked poised for a first victory, leading 2-1 at halftime thanks to a brace from Oceane Hurtre. Hurtre opened the scoring after just 40 seconds, but Palace responded in the 30th minute when a goalkeeper error allowed Shanade Hopcroft’s free‑kick to find the net.
Hurtre restored Birmingham’s lead three minutes later with a powerful strike from a tight angle. Palace rallied in the second half, with Bethany England equalising in the 70th minute, followed by Lexi Lloyd‑Smith’s one‑on‑one finish to complete the comeback.
However, Amano’s late strike earned Birmingham a valuable point, highlighting the competitive nature of the league’s lower tier. Overall, the week’s fixtures showcased the unpredictability and excitement of the Women’s Super League, with several clubs breaking negative streaks, extending impressive runs, and delivering memorable moments for fans across the country.