Chelsea stay perfect as Man Utd thrash rivals Liverpool

Chelsea maintained their perfect run in the Women's Super League with a 4-2 win over Brighton, while Manchester United thrashed Liverpool 4-0. 

On a pulsating day of action that saw 28 goals scored across six matches, United got the action started with their demolition of Liverpool, with four different goalscorers on target. 

Quick-fire goals from Elisabeth Terland and Leah Galton gave United a comfortable advantage at the break, before Dominique Janssen curled home the Red Devils' third just before the hour-mark, with the win sealed by substitute Melvine Malard nine minutes from time. 

It was a routine win for Marc Skinner's side, who have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, though the United boss said there is still room for improvement.

"I thought we were good. When we don't meet our high standards, we face criticism, but when we do play well, and we're dominant, we deserve the accolades," said Skinner. 

"It was a pretty even game up until [the first two goals were scored]. The second half was much more comfortable."

Chelsea are still five points clear at the WSL summit after edging a six-goal thriller against Brighton at Kingsmeadow. 

Two goals in five minutes from Sjoeke Nusken and Aggie Beever-Jones put the Blues in control, only for Sonia Bompastor's team to have their lead cut in half before the break by Jelena Cankovic.

Chelsea restored their two-goal advantage six minutes after the restart through Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, but the Seagulls responded once more. 

Kiko Seike's finish put the Blues' perfect start under threat in the final 20 minutes, but Chelsea sealed the win in second-half stoppage time, with Nusken on target once again. 

Bompastor is now unbeaten in her last 31 games across all competitions (W28 L3), and Sunday's win perhaps should have been won by a more marginal scoreline, while Chelsea have matched the Arsenal side of 2018-19 in winning their first nine WSL games of a campaign. Should they beat Leicester City next week, they will be the first team in the competition's history to reel off 10 victories to start a season.

The Blues registered a mammoth 31 shots, though only eight were on target, accumulating an expected goals (xG) total of 4.08 compared to Brighton's 2.19. 

Not wanting to be outdone by their neighbours or their title rivals, Manchester City also scored four as they comfortably dispatched Leicester 4-0, with Khadija Shaw netting twice. 

Shaw gave the hosts a second-minute lead when she nodded in Kerstin Casparij's cross, and doubled her tally before the half-hour mark with a powerful header. 

Jessica Park added the Citizens' third four minutes after the break, before Mary Fowler concluded the scoring with a fine volley from close range nine minutes later. 

And Gareth Taylor's side were worthy of their victory, restricting Leicester to just three shots on Khiara Keating's goal, while also ending the encounter with 71.7% possession. 

There was also another big win for Arsenal, with the Gunners earning a 4-0 win over Aston Villa, with Alessia Russo on target for the fourth consecutive WSL match. 

Russo's glancing header from Kyra Cooney-Cross' inswinging free-kick put Arsenal ahead, and Beth Mead doubled their advantage.

Substitute Stina Blackstenius netted the Gunners' third before Russo capped off her double in second half stoppage time, having seen an earlier effort ruled out for offside. 

It marked yet another win for interim head coach Renee Slegers, who is now unbeaten in her eight games in charge across all competitions since taking over from Jonas Eidevall. 

Sunday's highest scoring fixture took place at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, with West Ham coming from two goals down to beat relegation rivals Crystal Palace 5-2. 

Mille Gejl and Indiah-Paige Riley put Palace in control inside 11 minutes, before Viviane Asseyi, Seraina Piubel and Manuela Pavi hit back for the Hammers before the break.

Anouk Denton put West Ham further in front with a fine finish, before Hammers captain Katrina Gorry grabbed an injury-time fifth.

The defeat means Palace have gone 1-0 up in four of their last five league games, but failed to win any of them. No other team has dropped more points from winning positions this term than the Eagles (10).

Tottenham beat Everton 2-1 thanks to Bethany England's brace.

England scored either side of Sara Holmgaard's 40th minute equaliser, sealing Spurs' third win of the campaign, all of which have come at home.