A goal from Catarina Macario on her Chelsea debut, and return to action after 20 months out with injury, helped the Women’s Super League champions ease to a 4-0 victory against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
Chelsea bounced back from defeat against Manchester City by thrashing Willie Kirk’s side, in the process moving top on goal difference.
The rout started in the 38th minute when Nathalie Björn hooked in her first Chelsea goal. Mayra Ramírez added a second for Emma Hayes’s side before the break. Chelsea dominated proceedings thereafter and further efforts from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Macario helped the visitors to go back above City in the table.
It was a wonderful moment for Macario, who signed for Chelsea in July while still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up while playing for Lyon in 2022. The USA forward scored via a fine composed finish on 78 minutes and celebrated with a hug from Hayes.
Meanwhile, Manchester United lost further ground on the top three as they were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham. Rachel Williams gave the visitors a fourth-minute lead with her 50th WSL goal. But Viviane Asseyi equalised five minutes from full-time to leave Marc Skinner’s side nine points behind third-placed Arsenal.
Emma Koivisto scored twice as Liverpool beat Aston Villa 4-1. Grace Fisk’s deflected strike in the 19th minute gave Liverpool a lead and Sophie Roman Haug added a second before Sarah Mayling pulled one back from the penalty spot.
Koivisto made it 3-1 on the hour mark and added a fourth with eight minutes remaining as Liverpool moved level on points with United.
Brighton beat rock-bottom Bristol City 7-3 to move eight points clear of the relegation spot.
