Emillia Hawkins (now) and John Brewin (earlier) 

Brighton 1-2 Man City, Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal: WSL clockwatch – as it happened

Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal all took three points in their respective games while Aston Villa clinched a much-needed win over Liverpool.
  
  

Arsenal's Beth Mead celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Victoria Pelova.
Arsenal's Beth Mead celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Victoria Pelova. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters

That’s all from me! I’ll leave you with a reminder of today’s results…

  • Manchester United 2-0 Everton

  • Brighton 1-2 Manchester City

  • Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal

  • Leicester 1-1 Tottenham

  • Liverpool 1-2 Aston Villa

Just a reminder that the international break starts next week with England due to face Belgium twice in the Nations League. The Lionesses host Belgium at Ashton Gate on Friday before travelling to Heverlee for the reverse fixture on Tuesday.

After that, the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals take place on the 12th and 13th April and the WSL returns the following weekend.

Next up today, in-form West Ham travel across London to face WSL leaders Chelsea. Kick-off is at 4:30pm.

Full-time: 2pm fixtures

  • Brighton 1-2 Manchester City

  • Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal

  • Leicester 1-1 Tottenham

  • Liverpool 1-2 Aston Villa

Brighton 1-2 Manchester City: It’s all over at the Broadfield Stadium. City take all three points.

GOAL! Brighton 1-2 Manchester City (Charlize Rule, 90+2)

Rule gets one back for Brighton in the closing moments! Can they go on and find an equaliser now?

Liverpool 1-2 Aston Villa: It’s a huge win for Aston Villa! They now move four points clear of the relegation zone. It’s the club’s first win since mid-December.

GOAL! Brighton 0-2 Manchester City (Vivianne Miedema, 90)

Miedema seals the win for City!

Kerolin makes a powerful run into the box before passing across goal. The ball bounces off the back of Casparij and falls to the feet of Miedema, who fires home from close range.

Leicester 1-1 Tottenham: It’s all over at the King Power Stadium and the Tottenham players look absolutely devastated to have dropped points once again.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal (Beth Mead, 90+1)

What a strike from Mead!

The winger receives the ball from Little on the right before unleashing a fantastic strike into the top-left corner from at least 25 yards out!

GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Aston Villa (Jenna Clark OG,87)

Villa might’ve just won it!

Salmon does well to make her way into the box, skipping past three Liverpool players before putting the ball into the danger zone. Clark attempts to intercept but steers it into her own net!

That could turn out to be crucial for Aston Villa in the fight for WSL survival.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-3 Arsenal (Allyson Swaby OG, 77)

Arsenal have three!

Caldentey pokes the ball to Kelly on the left, who makes her way around Riley before squaring it across goal. Swaby steps across in an attempt to intercept but instead deflects the ball into her own net.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa (Kirsty Hanson, 68)

What a finish! Just three minutes after coming off the bench, Hanson receives a long ball from Kearns and makes her way into the box. Pressure from Laws forces her left and she is pushed into a tight angle but manages to get her shot on target, putting Villa level.

Updated

GOAL! Leicester 1-1 Tottenham (Drew Spence, 62)

Spurs are level! Naz makes her way into the box and cuts inside from the left before sending a low cross in to Spence, who places the ball into the bottom-right corner with her first touch.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa (Marie Höbinger, 55)

Höbinger converts a penalty to put the Reds in front!

Holland steals the ball from Maritz and Kearns in midfield and takes advantage of the high Villa line by making a direct run into the box. She looks to make her way around D’Angelo but the goalkeeper sticks out a leg and trips her up, resulting in a spot kick.

Höbinger steps up to take it, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner.

GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Tottenham (Josefine Rybrink OG, 55)

It’s a nightmare for Spurs as Rybrink deflects the ball into her own net!

Cain makes her way into the box from the right before unleashing a shot. It is parried by Kop but falls straight to Rybrink who runs the ball into her own goal. Very unfortunate for the defender.

Updated

Leicester 0-0 Tottenham: Opportunity for Leicester now as Chossenotte cuts into the box before shooting, but her effort runs inches wide of the post.

Leicester 0-0 Tottenham: Chance for Tottenham as Spence goes for goal just inside the box, but she fires her effort over the bar.

And finally, the teams are back out at the Broadfield Stadium.

Updated

Liverpool 0-0 Aston Villa: We’re now back up and running at St Helens Stadium.

We’re back underway at the King Power Stadium and Borough Sports Ground.

Half-time: 2pm fixtures

  • Brighton 0-1 Manchester City

  • Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal

  • Leicester 0-0 Tottenham

  • Liverpool 0-0 Aston Villa

The half-time whistles have started to blow across the grounds. Arsenal go into the break leading Crystal Palace, while Liverpool v Aston Villa and Leicester v Tottenham remain goalless.

Play is still continuing at the Broadfield Stadium, where Brighton host City.

Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal: Chance for Palace as a slip from Williamson sees the ball go straight to the feet of Stengel in the middle of the box, but the forward blasts her shot over the crossbar.

Still no goals at the King Power Stadium or St Helens Stadium as we approach half-time. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester City both lead their respective games.

GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Manchester City (Kerstin Casparij, 37)

And just like that, we have a goal at the Broadfield Stadium!

Fowler receives the ball on the left before cutting inside and weaving her way through three Brighton defenders. She eventually releases it, passing across goal to Casparij in the middle who simply taps home from close range.

Just over 10 minutes left to play until half-time across all four games and we’ve only seen two goals so far – both of which were in the same fixture. It remains goalless in the other three games.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal (Alessia Russo, 26)

Russo makes it two for the visitors!

Caldentey steals the ball from Cato in the final third and flicks it on to Russo, who makes a run into the box before firing her shot into the bottom-left corner.

Updated

Leicester 0-0 Tottenham: Good chance for Tottenham as Thomas runs through on goal. She looks to place the ball into the bottom-right corner but forces a strong save from Leitzig.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal (Beth Mead, 14)

Mead breaks the deadlock for Arsenal!

Maanum plays the ball through to Kelly on the left, who runs deep before sending a cross into the box. Mead then cuts inside and meets it with a thumping volley into the bottom-right corner. Great cross. Great strike. Great goal.

Updated

Brighton 0-0 Manchester City: Brighton are gifted a chance at goal as Kirby wins possession from Hasegawa in a dangerous area before flicking the ball short to Parris. The striker then goes for the shot from distance but misses the target.

Just a reminder of the fixtures in play as we speak…

  • Brighton v Manchester City

  • Crystal Palace v Arsenal

  • Leicester v Tottenham

  • Liverpool v Aston Villa

Thanks John! The 2pm games have just kicked off, no goals as of yet, however.

Talking of which, Emilia Hawkins takes over for those 2pm blogs.

The table, as it stands, with plenty of 2pm kick offs to come.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Chelsea Women 17 36 47
2 Man Utd Women 18 27 42
3 Arsenal Women 18 32 40
4 Man City Women 18 16 33
5 Brighton & Hove Albion Women 18 -5 23
6 Liverpool FC Women 18 -12 22
7 Everton Women 18 -9 19
8 West Ham Women 17 -8 18
9 Tottenham Hotspur Women 18 -16 18
10 Leicester Women 18 -13 16
11 Aston Villa Women 18 -20 11
12 Crystal Palace Women 18 -28 10

Full-time: Manchester United 2-0 Everton

A 12th clean sheet for United, and the Champions League is in sight for United. Everton are improved but without the tools to do much danger.

90+4 min: United close out in possession. In full control, Everton just able to clear, unable to mount an attack.

90+3 min: Gago is ok to limp off. And come back on again.

90+2 min: Gago, so quiet this half, goes down with an injury.

90+1 min: Four minutes were added on.

90 min: Fine save from Brosnan. Malard is set up to score by Williams but cannot beat the Everton keeper.

88 min: More United attacking, more changes made. Riviere off, Rachel Willams on, and Terland departs for Mannion.

86 min: United push for more. Naalsund is robbed as he makes an incursion into the opposing box. Riviere’s ball is deflected behind.

84 min: Panic in the Everton box as they try to play out. Terland is close to getting on the end of a cross that results. Pep Guardiola did this, all this playing out.

82 min: This game is ebbing away. United have had to work hard and Anna Sandberg’s just been booked for another shirt pull, but it should be a recalled as a game won relatively easy.

80 min: Janssen intercept, sends away Toone, but the cross is knocked away from Terland. Everton try to build an attack but United are in shape, back in numbers when the ball flashes across goal.

78 min: Another slow offside flag, and United are unhappy again. This time it’s Malard who is annoyed.

75 min: Galton limps down the tunnel, and looks to be better than expected.

74 min: On go two subs, as Clinton and Galton go off. Naalsund on, Awujo on.

72 min: Leah Galton has gone down. She felt something go, as she tells the physio.

71 min: Everton seem to have sorted their defending in the last 25 minutes, their attacking play has left a lot to be desired.

69 min: Le Tissier, on that yellow, berates a linesman for a slow offside decision.

67 min: Teland, still looking for her goal, is flagged offside.

66 min: United looking for more goals in their battle for second. No sense in sitting back. A yellow card is shown for Le Tissier for a shirt pull, a very obvious one.

64 min: The chances mounting up for United now. Clinton clips one wide.

Payne and Wheeler depart for Everton as subs are made.

62 min: Better goalkeeping from Brosnan in claiming Malard’s cross, aimed for Galton.

59 min: Fine run by Gago, half the length of the field, but no teammates to feed off her.

57 min: Janssen edges forward – no pressure on her – and smashes a shot on goal. It flies over but Everton’s pressing game appears a thing of the past.

54 min: Two Ev changes: Ladd off, Payne off, Holmgaard and Stenevik on.

United changes: Bizet has an injury and is upset she is isn’t recovered from her previous injury. Malard on.

52 min: The wind is up, and United have a corner. Sandberg struggles to keep the ball on its spot. Eventually, Everton get it clear. And it’s Sandberg who runs back to clear the danger.

50 min: Everton try to drive forward in response but they may find their defence exposed. United have been efficient in taking their chances.

49 min: Letting Grace Clinton, an expert at that those late runs, was a mistake Everton couldn’t afford to make.

Goal! Manchester United 2-0 Everton (Clinton, 48)

The answer is no. Sleepy defending, as Leah Galton is granted space to play in Grace Clinton.

Updated

46 min: Back underway at Leigh. Can Everton fight back?

Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Everton

United end the half looking in vain for another. Everton pinned back, their efforts tiring. They will rue that first-half mistake by Courtney Brosnan, who otherwise played well.

Updated

45+5 min: Another good Brosnan save, as Le Tissier goes long range.

45+4 min: Great save! Bizet burst, sets up Galton, and eventually it goes back to Bizet. Low shot, very well saved.

45+2 min: Big mistake from Everton in playing out from goal. Brosnan caught out, and Clinton swings and misses. That’s a let-off.

45 min: Six minutes added on, there’s been a lot of delays.

43 min: Miyazawa again gliding through midfield, sweeping up. Everton’s Snoeijs is down, after a heavy fall over Bizet.

41 min: Toni Payne sets off on a charge, and then loses the ball to Le Tissser, and takes strong action in hauling her opponent down,.

39 min: Miyazawa sweeps up when United concede the ball in midfield.

37 min: Clinton tries to lead United’s attack but Everton are back in shape. Riviere comes up as the spare player, and then loops it Galton. Brosnan is quick to smother the danger.

34 min: Fine high pressing from Everton. United tormented when they try to play out. United look shaky, there for the taking.

32 min: Galton to the byline in a rare United burst but the ball is out of of play. Gago is showing off her backheel speciality. Her teammates could do with reading it.

30 min: United are struggling with Gago, though she could do with players around her. She loses the ball and then dishes out a foul in chasing back.

28 min: Everton giving it a right go, they look far more solid than in early season.

25 min: United, having wobbled, seem to be far more confident after that gift. Everton still dangerous though.

23 min: Lost in the sun? Brosnan is shaking her head. Everton had been the better team.

Goal! Manchester United 1-0 Everton (Janssen, 22)

Oh no, oh no. Goalkeeping gaffe from Brosnan, dropped into the path of Janssen who can hardly miss.

Updated

20 min: Payne comes back on and instantly commits a crumping foul. Free-kick.

17 min: Gago going close had Sorensen, the Everton coach, in agony. Meanwhile, Heather Payne has just gone down, looks like her heel. Nasty business but she’s up and doing.

16 min: Riviere eventually comes back on and United’s patched-up backline is even more patched-up. Maya Le Tissier smashes the ball behind and dishes out some home truths. Everton fancy this one; there’s plenty for them to go at,

14 min: Lengthy delay as Riviere seems to land on her ankle. The physios took a while to come on.

12 min: Terland has a chance laid on a plate but can only swing and miss.

10 min: More Everton attacking, they’ve been much more dangerous so far. Big support for United.

Updated

8 min: A lull in play after Everton set off at such a rate, they’ve really looked up for this one.

5 min: The goal that was disallowed: that looks soft. If anything, it hit Vanhaevermaet’s side and not arm.

4 min: This is end to end, with Brosnan all at sea under a United attack. Then Everton make an attack and Toni Payne forces a fine save from Tullis-Joyce.

Everton goal disallowed

3 min: Everton have the ball in the net after Vanhaevermaet win the ball first. There’s a handball call.

Away we go at Leigh

1 min: It’s Ella Toone who gets them underway and Leah Galton is quickly involved. Everton win it back, but Gago is robbed. They do win a corner, though.

The players take to the field, the Stone Roses blaring into that wind.

Ahead of kick-off at a windy Leigh Sports Village.

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Chelsea Women 17 36 47
2 Arsenal Women 17 32 39
3 Man Utd Women 17 25 39
4 Man City Women 17 16 32
5 Brighton & Hove Albion Women 17 -5 22
6 Liverpool FC Women 17 -12 21
7 Everton Women 17 -7 19
8 West Ham Women 17 -8 18
9 Tottenham Hotspur Women 17 -16 17
10 Leicester Women 17 -13 15
11 Aston Villa Women 17 -20 10
12 Crystal Palace Women 17 -28 9

Two changes for United, Anna Sandberg replacing suspended Gabby George in defence, where Dominique Janssen also replaces Millie Turner.

One Everton change: Honoka Hayashi is out, Clare Wheeler returns from illness.

Manchester United v Everton teams

Man Utd Women: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere, Le Tissier, Sandberg, Miyazawa, Clinton, Janssen, Ildhusoy, Toone, Galton, Terland. Subs: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Mannion, Awujo, Naalsund, Malard, Williams.

Everton Women: Brosnan, Heather Payne, Mjelde, Fernandez, Sara Holmgaard, Snoeijs, Ladd, Wheeler, Vanhaevermaet, Toni Payne, Gago. Subs: Ramsey, Hayashi, Lawley, Hope, Sarri, Madsen, Stenevik, Karen Holmgaard, Olesen.

We’re back on domestic duty after the Women’s Champions League took the focus.

It’s been a been a hugely busy time in the women’s game though this may be the biggest story of all.

Preamble

A busy day in the WSL, one that concludes with Chelsea taking on West Ham. First, it’s Manchester United – on Arsenal’s tail, if not Chelsea’s – hosting mid-table Everton. Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace in the 2pm fixtures that also include Liverpool taking on Aston Villa, and Leicester hosting Tottenham. Manchester City, smarting from losing out in that super-series with Chelsea, travel to Brighton. Join us.

Updated

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*