Just two points separated third place Chelsea and fourth place Birmingham at the end of last season, but the visitors made short work of the hosts on their trip to the west Midlands and had raced into their 6-0 lead shortly after the hour mark.
When your CB goes on an adventure @Mdawg1bright pic.twitter.com/jXZiG8uMTZ
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 25, 2019
Chelsea went ahead through Ji So-yun just two minutes into the contest, but it was a flurry of goals either side of half-time that decided it. There were braces for Bethany England and Drew Spence, while Millie Bright score a fine effort after charging forward from defence.
Chelsea’s win was important because Manchester City and Arsenal are keeping the pressure on, with the two challengers just a single point behind the early leaders.
Wow
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 24, 2019
What an end to the game! It's @pauline_bremer with her second and @ManCityWomen's fifth pic.twitter.com/n3MBrjEzCe
Manchester City thrashed relegation threatened Bristol City in a similarly big away win, prevailing 5-0 in their lengthy round trip to the south west. There was a double for German international Pauline Bremer, with Ellen White also continuing her scoring run.
Tessa Wullaert and Caroline Weir got the others for the visitors.
Perhaps surprisingly, Arsenal scored just a single goal in their victory over win-less Liverpool, a result which keeps the Reds firmly nailed to the foot of the table.
'No surprise as to the identity of the goalscorer' 類 @VivianneMiedema puts @ArsenalWFC in front! pic.twitter.com/MhkeqlFqor
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 24, 2019
Vivianne Miedema got what proved to the decisive goal in the 1-0 scoreline in the first half, but the Gunners, who have now equalled their own WSL record of consecutive home wins (8), were comfortable as Liverpool offered very little in the way of threat – the Reds still only have a paltry single goal to show for their seven league outings this season.
Elsewhere, Manchester United returned to winning ways after a narrow loss to Chelsea in their last WSL game by comprehensively beating Brighton 4-0.
@ManUtdWomen were on top form @leah_galton21 smashed it home during their win over Brighton, as she also bagged a brace pic.twitter.com/xswSKIAX3K
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 25, 2019
Casey Stoney’s side had annihilated Leicester 11-1 in the Continental Cup in midweek and hardly needed to get out of second gear against the Seagulls. Winger Leah Galton stole the show by getting an assist and scoring twice, with Lauren James and Katie Zelem also netting.
United remain in fifth place, three points behind Everton, who are having a quite remarkable season after a win against Tottenham means they now have more points just seven games into 2019/20 than they managed in the whole of the 2018/19 campaign.
What. A. Hit! @JustLuc_ with an absolute beauty that sealed @EvertonWomen's victory over Spurs pic.twitter.com/jfvIaAzNpU
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 24, 2019
Molly Pike and Lucy Graham scored for the Toffees either side of an own goal by Spurs player Anna Filbey. Lucy Quinn had initially equalised for Spurs, but Everton had wrapped up the win by the time Graham scored early in the second half.
West Ham are finding things difficult in their second WSL season and were beaten 3-2 at home by Reading, despite initially being 2-0 ahead and the Royals being reduced to 10 players in first half stoppage time when Rachel Rowe was sent off.
Right place, right time @ReadingFCWomen have turned this game around! @jade_moore20 with the touch pic.twitter.com/3huMHz1KC5
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 24, 2019
Already 1-0 up through Katharina Baunach, the Hammers took advantage and looked on course to win when Leanne Kiernan doubled the lead shortly after the hour mark. But Reading then fought back and scored three times in just seven minutes, with England’s Jade Moore completing the turnaround after goals from Kristine Leine and Brooke Chaplen.
The standings
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 24, 2019
Here's how the #BarclaysFAWSL table looks pic.twitter.com/qVgHmfJmQj
The WSL continues with gameweek eight next weekend: 29 November – 1 December.
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Source: 90min