WSL: Everton stun Man City with first ever win, Leon shines for Aston Villa | OneFootball

Saturday saw Chelsea fail to win for the first time this season, giving Manchester City the chance to close the gap at the top with their clash with Everton.

Follow that encounter – plus three more WSL fixtures – with us.

Russo on target as Arsenal overcome Liverpool

Scorers: Russo 20'

Arsenal saw out a close 1-0 victory away to Liverpool.

Alessia Russo displayed her ruthless striker's instinct as she drove home a shot from a corner through a crowded penalty area.

Just six minutes later, the Gunners were awarded a penalty, but Mariona Caldentey struck the post with her effort from the spot.

The victory sees Arsenal join Man Utd just one point behind Manchester City in second place.

Leon brace allows Aston Villa see off West Ham

Scorers: Leon 4' 43', Dali 83'; Asseyi 21'

Managerles Aston Villa saw out the year with a 2-1 win over West Ham as Canada international Adriana Leon fired in a brace.

The home side were ahead when Adriana Leon was allowed to run inside the box unchallenged, and then bent a stunning effort round goalkeeper Kinga Szemik with the outside of her boot.

If that was a wake-up call for the Hammers, they soon regrouped and hit back thanks to a Viviane Asseyi header, her third goal of the WSL campaign.

A lovely through ball from Kenza Dali, and Leon was on the scoresheet once again, this time with a simple finish when one-on-one with Szemik.

Dali then had a goal of her own as the game drew into the final stages, carrying the ball from halfway and smashing her strike into the back of the net.

The three points gives Villa a bit of breathing space away from the bottom of the table, with the club still to appoint a new boss to take them into the new year.

Manchester United finish the year strong with Palace victory

Scorers: Clinton 45+5'

Manchester United held out for a 1-0 win away at Crystal Palace.

Marc Skinner's side broke the deadlock deep into first-half stoppage time when the in-form Grace Clinton fired a shot past Shae Yáñez from the edge of the area following an intense spell of pressing from the Red Devils.

That win puts United within one point of second-place Manchester City with the next round of WSL fixtures not until mid-January.

Everton deliver first ever WSL win over Man City

Scorers: Hope 31', Hayashi 39'; Fowler 89' (PEN)

Struggling Everton pulled off an incredible 2-1 win over title challengers Manchester City.

After keeping things tight for the opening half-hour, Everton shocked Gareth Taylor's side with a goal that originally stemmed from a corner, the backline appealing for offside in vain as Lucy Hope powered a header home from an exquisite Sara Holmgaard ball.

If that wasn't bad enough for Man City, the Toffees doubled their advantage just eight minutes later when Honoka Hayashi found herself in space on the edge of the box with the ball at her feet and drilled a low shot past Khiara Keating.

With the minutes ticking away, the visitors were handed a lifeline when Yui Hasegawa was needlessly dragged back by Karoline Olesen, giving the referee no choice but to award the spot-kick. Australia international duly converted the penalty, setting up a potentially exciting finish.

But it wasn't to be for the visitors, and that result leaves Gareth Taylor's side six points adrift of Chelsea at the top.

There are some huge Champions League clashes to come in midweek for WSL sides, as Chelsea travel to Real Madrid on Tuesday, while Wednesday sees Arsenal host Bayern Munich and Manchester City face an away tie with Barcelona.

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