Barclays WSL 
Chelsea returned to the top of the Women's Super League with a 6-0 victory over bottom side Charlton Athletic, while Manchester City had to dig deep at London City Lionesses and Tottenham ended their losing run in style.
Chelsea scored four goals in the first 19 minutes at The Valley, leaving Charlton stunned. Katie McCabe crossed for Nathalie Bjorn to send a looping header into the far corner after three minutes, before Melvine Malard doubled the lead from close range as Anna Koivunen fumbled the ball into her own net. Lauren James' strike was parried by Koivunen, but Ellie Carpenter reacted first to slot home for her second goal in as many games. Malard then poked home a fourth, and although she thought she had completed a 12-minute hat-trick, the goal was ruled out for a tight offside. The only disappointment for the Blues came when James had to be substituted after 35 minutes, having gone down when trying to run on to the ball. After the break, substitute Aggie Beever-Jones latched onto a clever flick from Keira Walsh to score her first goal since September 2025, before Giulia Dragoni marked her first Chelsea goal with a brilliant turn and finish. Chelsea are level on points with champions Manchester City but have a superior goal difference, while Charlton remain bottom with zero points from eight games.
Manchester City had to dig deep to win 2-1 at London City Lionesses, who impressed in a thrilling display at Hayes Lane. In a chaotic second half, Khadija Shaw scored against the run of play to give City the lead, before Jana Fernandez equalised with a header – just reward for London City, who had missed countless opportunities in a dominant first-half display. However, the hosts' celebrations were short-lived as Lauren Hemp diverted in a cross from Mary Fowler two minutes later to regain City's lead. London City goalkeeper Mary Earps, handed her first league start, impressed by tipping Rebecca Knaak's header onto the post and clawing it off the line in the first half after Grace Geyoro squandered one of many chances.
Tottenham Hotspur put on a clinical display to get back to winning ways, sticking four past Birmingham City to end a three-game losing streak. Julie Blakstad opened the scoring in the first half before two goals in three second half minutes from Olivia Holdt and Signe Gaupset put the Blues to the sword, with Victoria Pelova adding a late fourth. It was a timely victory for Spurs, moving them up to fourth after a run of three defeats saw them concede 14 goals against Arsenal, Chelsea and London City Lionesses. The game also marked captain Drew Spence making a record 217th WSL appearance, overtaking former Chelsea captain Millie Bright. Birmingham started well, with Oceane Hurtre firing just wide and Lee Geum-Min seeing a shot tipped onto the bar by Lize Kop, but Spurs soon settled and took the lead in the 37th minute after the visitors again failed to clear their lines. Holdt's fine free kick doubled the lead on 50 minutes, Gaupset arrowed a shot into the bottom corner three minutes later, and although Neve Herron pulled one back, Pelova's low strike in the 84th minute dismissed any chance of a comeback.
In-form Manchester United made it ten games unbeaten in all competitions but were held by Everton to a goalless draw at Goodison Park. Norway striker Elisabeth Terland came close to a late winner, latching onto Jess Park's through ball with 15 minutes left, but she was denied by a fine save from Courtney Brosnan. At the other end, Everton's Ornella Vignola had earlier passed up two decent opportunities when she shot straight at Phallon Tullis-Joyce. The result leaves United four points off third place and the Champions League qualification spots.
Alessia Russo scored late on to rescue a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Aston Villa. Substitute Stina Blackstenius crossed from the right and Russo flicked a header inside the far corner to earn the Gunners a point after Villa had gone ahead in the 25th minute, Chasity Grant latching onto a ball from Lynn Wilms and cruising past Steph Catley before slotting into the bottom corner, completely against the run of play. Grant was almost sent clear again before the break, but Catley made a brilliant tackle to stop her run. Kyra Cooney-Cross sent a header wide when unmarked in the box, while Georgia Stanway's shot from 25 yards was well saved by Akane Okuma. Kim Little's strike from the edge of the area in the 75th minute was brilliantly tipped over by Okuma as Villa held firm amid intense pressure, before their resolve was eventually broken by Russo's header.
Caitlin Hayes and Sophie Peskett scored twice in five minutes as Brighton & Hove Albion came from behind to beat rivals Crystal Palace 2-1 in a deserved victory for the Seagulls. WSL strugglers Palace took a surprise first-half lead with their first shot of the game from Annabel Blanchard, who curled home from distance in the 34th minute after Chiamaka Nnadozie's poor pass fell to Hayley Ladd. But Brighton bounced back after the break with Hayes heading home the equaliser from a Manuela Vanegas cross in the 59th minute, before Peskett diverted Emilie Joramo's wayward low shot towards goal and into the net. It was nothing less than the hosts deserved, moving them up to sixth in the table, while Palace are without a win in seven after their third defeat in a row.
Viviane Asseyi scored twice as West Ham United gained their third WSL victory of the season with a dominant 4-1 home win over Liverpool. The Hammers started the day 12th in the table, having scored only five goals in seven league games, but netted four in the opening 62 minutes against the Reds. Asseyi grabbed the opener from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after being fouled by Fuka Nagano, before Leila Wandeler doubled the lead eight minutes later following a bright run and exchange of passes with Seraina Piubel. Asseyi hit the crossbar and West Ham did not have to wait long to score again, Laia Codina making it 3-0 just before the break with a 30-yard effort that took a huge deflection off Jenna Clark before looping in. It became 4-0 in the 62nd minute when Asseyi curled a superb free kick just underneath the crossbar. Liverpool pulled one back ten minutes later through substitute Vivien Endemann's deflected low shot, but the victory took West Ham above Liverpool to tenth, with the Reds one point and one place below them in 11th.
Leading goalscorers:
12 - Khadija Shaw (Manchester City);
6 - Oceane Hurtre (Birmingham City);
6 - Melvine Malard (Chelsea);
6 - Victoria Pelova (Tottenham Hotspur);
5 - Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United);
5 - Lauren Hemp (Manchester City);
4 - Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea);
4 - Olivia Holdt (Tottenham Hotspur);
4 - Lauren James (Chelsea);
4 - Kiko Seike (Brighton & Hove Albion);
(League goals only)
