The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Back to home page

Barclays WSL

Manchester City took a commanding step towards the Barclays Women's Super League title with a ruthless

5-1 demolition of defending champions Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

Brazilian star Kerolin stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick, ensuring City now hold an eleven point lead at the top

of the table.

The game was effectively over by half-time as City raced into a 2-0 lead. Kerolin opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a powerful finish, before Khadija Shaw shrugged off Naomi Girma to slot home the second. The highlight arrived shortly after the restart when Kerolin embarked on a surging run from deep, outpacing Keira Walsh and producing an audacious chip over Hannah Hampton to make it 3-0. She completed her hat-trick five minutes later with a simple tap-in.

Vivianne Miedema added a fifth with a header, while Alyssa Thompson grabbed a late consolation for Chelsea. The result underlines City's relentless form and marks a significant setback for Sonia Bompastor's side, who were unbeaten in 34 games at one time and secured a domestic treble last season.

Manchester United moved up to second in the table courtesy of a 3-1 victory over bottom side Liverpool at Leigh Sports Village. Lisa Naalsund netted twice in the second half to secure the points for Marc Skinner's team.

The first half was a frustrating affair for the hosts, who dominated possession and shots but struggled to breach Jennifer Falk's goal. United burst into life after the break, with Jessica Park forcing a fine save from Falk before Naalsund opened the scoring on 51 minutes, finishing off a slick move with a top corner strike after Park's cut back.

Liverpool responded quickly, equalising through Alice Bergstrom's close range finish from a corner. United regained the lead almost immediately, however, as Julia Zigiotti robbed possession in midfield and teed up Naalsund for her second – a precise finish into the bottom corner. Substitute Frida Rolfo sealed the victory in the closing stages, slotting home from close range after Hanna Lundkvist's cut back.

Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from defeat the previous weekend with a gritty 2-1 win over West Ham United at Chigwell Construction Stadium. The hosts took a surprise lead against the run of play when Shekiera Martinez tapped in from close range, finishing off a swift counter started by Viviane Asseyi on her 100th appearance for the club. The Hammers threatened again, but Lize Kop produced a point blank save from Asseyi, with Toko Koga clearing off the line.

Tottenham dominated possession in the first half but lacked a cutting edge, before the second period brought a turnaround: Matilda Vinberg levelled with a superb 25-yard strike into the top corner – her first league goal of the season. The winner arrived when Olivia Holdt pounced on a loose ball following a mistake by West Ham debutant Tuva Hansen, firing a powerful effort past the keeper.

Freya Godfrey inspired London City Lionesses to their first league victory under head coach Eder Maestre, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls took a deserved lead through Kiko Seike's clever outside-of-the-foot finish off the post after a fine team move involving Madison Haley's backheel but Godfrey levelled just before half time when her right wing cross was turned in by Brighton defender Moeka Minami.

Moments into the second half, Godfrey turned provider into scorer, cutting in from the right and curling a classy finish into the top corner just 21 seconds after Nadine Noordam's shot had struck the post. Brighton pushed for an equaliser, with Seike and Haley both denied late on, but Elena Linari's timely sliding challenge preserved the lead as London City came from behind to win a league match for the first time this season.

Everton secured their first victory of the campaign at Goodison Park, defeating Aston Villa 2-1 thanks to two set piece headers from Martina Fernandez. The Toffees fell behind early when Ruby Mace's errant pass gifted possession to Ebony Salmon, who swept past a defender and beat Courtney Brosnan. Fernandez levelled before half time, heading in Mace's perfectly delivered corner at the back post.

Villa dominated after the restart but failed to capitalise and Everton struck late when Fernandez powered home another header, this time from Mace's free kick, to end a six-game home losing streak since their switch to the historic ground last summer.

Leading goalscorers:

14 - Khadija Shaw (Manchester City);

7 - Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa);

6 - Kerolin (Manchester City);

6 - Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City);

5 - Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal);

5 - Melvine Malard (Manchester United);

5 - Shekiera Martinez (West Ham United);

5 - Beata Olsson (Liverpool);

5 - Jess Park (Manchester United);

5 - Alessia Russo (Arsenal);

5 - Kiko Seike (Brighton & Hove Albion);

5 - Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea);

4 - Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea);

4 - Beth England (Tottenham Hotspur);

4 - Aoba Fujino (Manchester City);

4 - Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses);

4 - Olivia Holdt (Tottenham Hotspur);

4 - Cathinka Tandberg (Tottenham Hotspur);

4 - Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United);

4 - Ornella Vignola (Everton);

(League goals only)