Chelsea crush West Ham to maintain perfect start to WSL season

Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the new Women’s Super League season as they coasted to a 4-0 win over struggling West Ham, who had midfielder Ines Belloumou sent off in the first half.

The Blues got off to a flyer at the Chigwell Construction Stadium with goals from in-form Aggie Beever-Jones, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Erin Cuthbert inside the opening 15 minutes.

West Ham’s miserable afternoon went from bad to worse when Belloumou was shown a straight red card for pulling Alyssa Thompson’s ponytail.

Wieke Kaptein slotted in a fourth with 20 minutes left to leave Chelsea two points clear at the top of the table, while the Irons slumped to a fourth straight league defeat.

Manchester United had earlier produced another solid display with a 2-0 win at Liverpool to move up to second place.

Hinata Miyazawa fired the visitors into a fourth-minute lead, with Ella Toone then striking in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Liverpool had their chances – hitting a post before the break and also having a strong penalty claim from Cornelia Kapocs turned down – but could not find a way back into the game and remain pointless from their three WSL matches.

Before kick-off at the Totally Wicked Stadium, the home fans gave a passionate rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as they paid tribute to former Reds boss Matt Beard, who died last weekend.

Khadija Shaw scored two second-half penalties to help Manchester City to a 4-1 win over the battling London City Lionesses at the Joie Stadium.

Andree Jeglertz’s side appeared to be cruising after two goals in the space of four minutes from Vivianne Miedema and Laura Blindkilde Brown had them 2-0 up inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

But Nikita Parris capitalised on a defensive mistake to punish her former team in the 19th minute and the match turned into a nervy battle until Shaw struck from the spot in the 69th minute and then added a second penalty late on.

Tottenham held off a fightback from Leicester to close out a 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium.

Early goals from Cathinka Tandberg and Olivia Holdt put Spurs in control before Sam Tierney reduced the deficit just before half-time, but the Foxes could not find an equaliser.

Michelle Agyemang’s first goal of the season proved enough to give Brighton a 1-0 home win over Everton, who slumped to a third straight WSL defeat.