Manchester United broke their early‑season slump in the Women's Super League by edging West Ham United 2-1 at Leigh Sports Village, marking their inaugural win of the 2026/27 campaign. Eva Olid’s side, which had managed only a solitary point from their opening three fixtures, seized the initiative within the first ten minutes. A well‑timed cross from Anna Sandberg found Elisabeth Terland, whose unchallenged header tucked the ball past the Hammers' keeper, giving United an early lead. The momentum almost saw United double their advantage before the interval.
Hanna Lundkvist rose to meet a set‑piece and directed a powerful header toward goal, only for West Ham goalkeeper Constance Picaud to produce a reflex save, tipping the ball over the bar in the dying moments of the first half. The narrow escape kept the scoreline at 1-0 but underscored United’s growing confidence. The second half began with United pressing aggressively. In a burst of three attacks over three minutes, Andrea Medina clanged a shot against the crossbar, Jess Park sent a drive wide, and Terland forced yet another fingertip save from Picaud.
West Ham, meanwhile, struggled to find a foothold; it took a full hour before they registered a shot on target. Estelle Cascarino broke through the centre of the pitch and unleashed a dipping strike that forced Phallon Tullis‑Joyce to scramble and tip the ball over the bar. United’s persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when Medina, after receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Park, slotted a low‑driven finish past the keeper, extending the lead to 2-0. The goal appeared to seal a clean sheet for United, but a late penalty altered the narrative.
Viviane Asseyi was brought down inside the box by Anna Sandberg, and she calmly converted from the spot, sending the ball into the bottom left corner and giving West Ham a consolation goal. The match concluded 2-1 in United’s favour, delivering them their first three points of the season and ending a disappointing start. In a separate fixture, Chelsea continued their impressive run, stretching their unbeaten streak in the WSL to twelve games after a hard‑fought 1-0 London derby victory over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The run, comprising ten wins and two draws, dates back to 8 February and simultaneously snapped the Gunners' own 23‑match unbeaten record that spanned almost twelve months.
Arsenal dominated large portions of the first half, with Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey both seeing their efforts rebound off the woodwork. Nevertheless, they failed to register a single shot on target before the break. Chelsea’s breakthrough arrived late in the first half when Keira Walsh unleashed a 20‑yard effort that was parried by Arsenal’s Anneke Borbé. The rebound fell to Alyssa Thompson, who struck the ball high into the net, giving the Blues a 1-0 lead.
Despite Arsenal’s manager Renee Slegers introducing attacking options such as Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius in the second half, they could not find an equaliser. The defeat marked Arsenal’s third consecutive league loss, leaving them seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Further north, Liverpool achieved a historic 2-0 triumph over Everton at Anfield, securing the club’s first WSL Merseyside derby win at the venue.
Prior to this encounter, Liverpool had suffered eight defeats in nine league matches at Anfield, five of which were at the hands of Everton. The Reds opened the scoring early, with Beata Olsson heading in a looping cross in the fourth minute. Liverpool continued to press, but Everton’s midfield anchor Ruby Mace displayed a stoic defensive display, denying Natalia Ramos and clearing a Cornelia Kapocs attempt off the line. Kapocs eventually broke the deadlock in the 85th minute, sweeping home a second‑half effort to seal a 2-0 victory for Everton, but Liverpool’s early goal ensured they walked away with the points.
The win not only broke a long‑standing hoodoo at Anfield but also signalled Liverpool’s intent to climb the table. In London, Tottenham Hotspur delivered a commanding 4-0 performance against Aston Villa, propelled by a dominant second‑half display that kept them within striking distance of Manchester City at the summit.
The victory lifted Spurs to ten points from four games, just two points behind the leaders. Villa, sitting 13th, managed to hold Spurs at bay in the first half, but the floodgates opened after Victoria Pelova’s 54th‑minute opener. Pelova doubled the lead shortly thereafter with a curling finish. Caitlin Dijkstra added a back‑post header, and Cathinka Tandberg capitalised on the rebound to complete the rout.
Newly promoted Birmingham City continued their search for a maiden WSL win, salvaging a point in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at St Andrew’s. Suzu Amano entered as a substitute and netted a deflected equaliser in the 87th minute, ensuring Birmingham left St Andrew’s with a point. The Blues had led 2-1 at halftime thanks to a double from Oceane Hurtre, who scored after just 40 seconds and again three minutes after Palace’s equaliser.
Palace fought back in the second half, with Bethany England restoring parity in the 70th minute and Lexi Lloyd‑Smith sealing the comeback with a one‑on‑one finish. Amano’s late strike denied Palace a second win and gave Birmingham their second point of the season. These results highlight the competitive nature of the WSL this season, with several clubs breaking negative streaks, extending unbeaten runs, and delivering memorable moments for fans across the country.