Manchester United broke their early‑season drought with a 2-1 triumph over West Ham United at Leigh Sports Village, earning their inaugural win in the 2026/27 Women’s Super League campaign. Eva Olid’s side, which had managed only a solitary point from their opening three fixtures, surged ahead within the first ten minutes when Elisabeth Terland deftly headed in a cross from Anna Sandberg that went untouched into the net.
The score could have been doubled before the interval, but West Ham keeper Constance Picaud produced a spectacular reflex save, deflecting Hanna Lundkvist’s powerful header over the bar in the dying moments of the first half. United emerged from the break with renewed vigor, creating three chances in quick succession.
Andrea Medina struck the crossbar, Jess Park missed the target, and Terland forced another fingertip save from Picaud, underscoring the intensity of the contest. West Ham’s first genuine threat arrived an hour into the match when Estelle Cascarino burst down the centre unmarked and unleashed a dipping drive that forced United’s goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce to intervene with a well‑timed tip.
The decisive moment came with 18 minutes remaining: Medina, after receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Park, capitalised on a rebound and slotted home the second goal, extending United’s lead to 2-0. However, the Hammers were not finished.
Viviane Asseyi earned a penalty after being tripped by Sandberg, and she calmly dispatched it into the bottom left corner, reducing the deficit to one. The match concluded 2-1 in United’s favour, marking a crucial morale boost after a shaky start to the season. In a separate London derby, Chelsea continued their impressive run, stretching their unbeaten streak in the WSL to twelve matches with a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The run, comprising ten wins and two draws, dates back to 8 February and simultaneously ended Arsenal’s own 23‑game unbeaten run that spanned nearly twelve months.
Arsenal dominated large portions of the first half, with Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey both seeing their efforts rebound off the woodwork. Despite the pressure, the Gunners failed to register a single shot on target before the break. Their fortunes turned when a Keira Walsh effort from 20 yards was saved by Chelsea’s keeper Anneke Borbe; the rebound was swiftly redirected into the net by Alyssa Thompson, giving the Blues the decisive lead. Chelsea’s manager Renee Slegers introduced fresh attacking options—Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord, and Stina Blackstenius—in an attempt to widen the margin, but Arsenal could not find an equaliser.
The loss marked Arsenal’s third consecutive league defeat, leaving them seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Further north, Liverpool broke a long‑standing hoodoo at Anfield by defeating Everton 2-0, securing the club’s first WSL Merseyside derby win on home soil.
Historically, Liverpool had lost eight of their nine league encounters at Anfield, five of those defeats coming at the hands of Everton. The breakthrough came early, with Beata Olsson heading in a looping ball in the fourth minute to put the Reds ahead.
Liverpool continued to press, but Everton’s defensive midfielder Ruby Mace proved a formidable barrier, thwarting two clear‑cut chances: she blocked Natalia Ramos’ shot and cleared a dangerous cross from Cornelia Kapocs off the line. Kapocs eventually broke the deadlock in the closing stages, netting a second goal with just under five minutes remaining, sealing a memorable 2-0 win for Liverpool. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur delivered a dominant second‑half display against Aston Villa, cruising to a 4-0 victory that kept them within striking distance of Manchester City at the top of the table. The win lifted Spurs to ten points from four games, narrowing the gap to the league leaders to two points.
Villa, sitting 13th, had managed to keep the score level until halftime, but the second half belonged to Tottenham. Victoria Pelova opened the scoring in the 54th minute, and she doubled her tally shortly thereafter with a curling finish.
Caitlin Dijkstra added a back‑post header, and Cathinka Tandberg pounced on the rebound, completing a comprehensive rout. Newly promoted Birmingham City continued their quest for a maiden WSL win, salvaging a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace at St Andrew’s. Suzu Amano, introduced from the bench, struck a deflected equaliser in the 87th minute, ensuring the Blues walked away with a point. Birmingham had looked poised for victory, leading 2-1 at halftime thanks to a brace from Oceane Hurtre.
Hurtre’s first goal arrived after just 40 seconds, while 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. The second half saw Palace mount a comeback: Bethany England equalised in the 70th minute, and Lexi Lloyd‑Smith completed the turnaround with a composed one‑on‑one finish.
However, Birmingham’s late surge, highlighted by Amano’s 87th‑minute strike, earned them their second point of the season and denied Palace a second win. Overall, the week’s fixtures highlighted the competitive balance of the WSL, with established clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham reinforcing their ambitions, while newcomers such as Birmingham demonstrated resilience and the capacity to challenge seasoned opponents. The league’s narrative continues to evolve, promising further excitement as teams vie for supremacy in the remainder of the season.