Chelsea stunned at Liverpool in Women's Super League opener

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:54 am
Liverpool were promoted to the Women's Super League this season.
John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Reigning champions Chelsea slumped to a 2-1 defeat by newly promoted Liverpool and Aston Villa pulled off a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester City as the opening round of fixtures in the Women's Super League season was completed on Sunday.

Fran Kirby gave Chelsea the lead from the penalty spot in the third minute, but a pair of second-half penalties from Katie Stengel gave the Reds a stunning victory on their return to the top flight.

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Earlier, England international Rachel Daly secured a similar upset as Aston Villa beat Manchester City, her two goals helping Villa to get their first win over City in the competition.

Signed from NWSL side Houston Dash earlier this month, Daly set up Alisha Lehmann for the game's opening goal in the 22nd minute before snapping up a loose ball and curling it home for the second 10 minutes later.

City struck back with Laura Coombs scoring a brace either side of a Khadija Shaw strike to put themselves into the lead in the second half, but Villa made it 3-3 through Kenza Dali in the 58th minute.

That set the scene for Daly, who started for England at left back in every game of their victorious Euro 2022 campaign but was deployed here as a striker, to pounce as City keeper Ellie Roebuck spilled the ball into her path for a simple finish in the 76th minute.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a 2-1 win over Leicester City and Lisa Evans got the only goal as West Ham United beat Everton 1-0 at home.

On Friday, Arsenal got the season off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, while Manchester United repeated that result with a 4-0 thrashing of Reading on Saturday.