WSL: Manchester United extend unbeaten run after draw v Arsenal, Chelsea thrash Everton and close in on Manchester City

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Manchester United extended their unbeaten run this season as they earned a point against Arsenal in front of a record crowd at Leigh Sports Village. England international Alessia Russo deservedly put Arsenal ahead shortly after half-time, scoring against her former club, before Melvine Malard snatched an equaliser with a close-range header past Daphne van Domselaar.

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Marc Skinner's 100th game in charge of Manchester United was ultimately a happy one as his side snatched a point against a dominant Arsenal side in their Women's Super League clash.

United continued their unbeaten start to the season with the 1-1 draw in front of a record crowd of 8,348 at Leigh Sports Village. But Arsenal - who were on top for much of the second half - will be disappointed with a draw.

Former United player Alessia Russo put Arsenal ahead in the 63rd minute, sweeping an Emily Fox cutback beyond Phallon Tullis-Joyce, but Melvine Malard nodded over Daphne van Domselaar 20 minutes later.

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Despite the disappointment of dropping points late on, Arsenal - playing under interim manager Renee Slegers after Jonas Eidevall's resignation - looked a fresher, more-slick operation after a mixed start to this WSL campaign.

Arsenal threatened more in the early stages, pressing United, who relied on an outstanding performance from Millie Turner in defence to prevent them falling behind early.

Elisabeth Terland missed the hosts' best chance of the first half, nodding a header straight into Van Domselaar's gloves, while Frida Maanum was lively for Arsenal but could not work a breakthrough.

After a goalless first half, The Gunners came out swinging, with Russo wasting a chance when unmarked in the box and Lia Walti having a go from long range but seeing the ball just drift wide past a scrambling Tullis-Joyce.

Arsenal's relentless pressing was rewarded as Russo netted her first goal of the season, latching on to Fox's cutback from a threaded ball by Mariona Caldentey and finishing sweetly into the left corner.

The England international did not celebrate much against her former club but continued to look sharp in the opposition box as the one-way traffic continued. United managed just four passes in Arsenal's box in the 20 minutes after the restart.

Some boos greeted Russo's substitution for Stina Blackstenius and Arsenal did not manage to put the game to bed, eventually coming undone from a United set-piece.

A pair of subs combined to level the match 82 minutes in, Rachel Williams heading on from a corner to Malard, who knocked the ball over Van Domselaar.

A busy six added minutes followed as both sides hunted for a winner, Tullis-Joyce making a good save to deny Leah Williamson and Walti firing over the bar in the dying embers of the game.

But at the final whistle it was all square and a point salvaged for the hosts, who slip to fourth in the WSL, two points above fifth-place Arsenal.

Chelsea thrash Everton to return top

Chelsea maintained their 100% start to the season with an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Everton at Goodison Park.

The result moves Sonia Bompastor’s side one point behind Manchester City, who secured a 3-0 win of their own against Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday. Chelsea have a game in hand.

Goals from Aggie Beever-Jones, Erin Cuthbert, Guro Reiten, Wieke Kaptein and Ashley Lawrence saw The Blues ease to victory over a Toffees side that are still winless and propping up the table with two points from six games.

The Blues opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Beever-Jones met Kadeisha Buchanan's excellent cross with a sublime header which flew past Courtney Brosnan in the Everton goal.

Brian Sorensen's side were 2-0 down shortly before half-time, as Cuthbert robbed Veatriki Sarri and dispatched a clinical finish beyond Brosnan.

Any hopes of an unlikely Everton comeback were extinguished with Reiten reacting at the far post to slide in Sjoeke Nusken's delivery.

A fourth goal arrived courtesy of Wieke Kaptein, who rifled in a ferocious effort from inside the box to punish Megan Finnigan's mishit clearance.

Ashley Lawrence rounded off a fine night's work for the reigning champions, as she had the simplest of task to tap in a Oriane Jean-Francois cross.

This result moves Bompastor's side to within one point of league leaders Manchester City with a game in hand, while winless Everton prop up the table with a mere two points from six games.

CITY CRUISE PAST PALACE, SPURS AND BRIGHTON WIN

Elsewhere on Sunday, Manchester City remain top of the WSL table following an imperious 3-0 win against a timid Crystal Palace side.

Jess Park scored their first five minutes shy of half-time, catching the ball on the half turn and dispatching a looped shot beyond diving 'keeper Shae Yanez.

Jill Roord bagged her second goal of the season in the 50th minute, driving in a loose ball in the box, before getting her fourth assist this campaign 73 minutes in as Bunny Shaw netted their third of the afternoon.

With the game wrapped up, changes were made and Shaw sported the captain's armband, having scored her fourth goal so far this term.

City had numerous other chances as they rampaged past The Eagles but Yanez more than earned her keep, making a brilliant diving save to repel a header by an unmarked Roord, and tipping a powerful Chloe Kelly strike over the bar in almost the last action of the game.

Over in north London, Tottenham looked much the better side at home to fellow mid-table outfit West Ham, but were kept on their toes throughout and only narrowly scraped a 2-1 win, their second league victory of the season.

It was the visitors who drew first blood against the run of play, after Bethany England had a goal ruled out for offside and missed another chance to put the hosts ahead. Viviane Asseyi swung in a corner, with Riko Ueki heading home off the post 37 minutes in to put The Hammers on course for their first win of the season - and with their first shot on target of the game.

But England levelled proceedings shortly after the restart, finally knocking home from close range after a heap of Spurs bodies in the box twice failed to find the net, latching on to Matilda Vinberg's rebound off the post.

Both sides pressed for a winner, but it was the hosts who capitalised late on, West Ham's Camila Saez hooking a long ball from Luana Buhler into her own net under pressure from Lenna Gunning-Williams.

On the south coast, Brighton & Hove Albion held on for a nervy 1-0 win over Leicester City, having dominated for much of the game but forced to withstand a late barrage of pressure.

The winner came 20 minutes in courtesy of former Manchester United striker Nikita Parris. The summer signing side-stepped her marker and slotted in from Jocelyn Carabali's cross, missing a chance for a brace after skewing Fran Kirby's pass just wide shortly before the break.

The Seagulls continued to step on the gas after the break and misfortune continued for Leicester, who lost Sam Tierney to injury midway through the second half. She landed awkwardly on her ankle and appeared to be badly hurt as she was stretchered off.

The hosts continued to dominate possession, while Leicester did not record a single shot on target until substitute Hannah Cain fired straight at Sophie Baggaley as the final minutes ticked down.

With seven minutes added on, the visitors continued to throw everything at Baggaley, who was nearly caught out by a Sophie Howard cross-shot. But at the final whistle it was a deserved win for Brighton, who move up to second in the league, three points behind leaders City.

Villa remain winless after Liverpool defeat

Aston Villa's winless start to the Women's Super League season continued with a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Villa Park.

A brace from Taylor Hinds was enough to earn The Reds all three points, before Gabi Nunes scored what proved to be a consolation at the start of the second half.

Hinds broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when she reacted quickest to Leanne Kiernan's cross with a clinical close-range finish.

She scored her second with 43 minutes on the clock after running into the box and firing home a Grace Fisk delivery from the right-hand side.

Villa showed signs of improvement after the break and deservedly halved the deficit through Nunes, and had a chance to restore parity when Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws made a fine save to keep out Kirsty Hanson’s effort.

Villa have two points from their opening six games.

Meanwhile, this result for Liverpool moves Matt Beard's side up into sixth with nine points from six games.

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