Summary

  • Busy day as all 12 WSL teams play

  • Man Utd put four past Liverpool in first of six games

  • Leaders Chelsea also win to maintain lead at top

  • West Ham beat Crystal Palace in thriller

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply

  1. Cheerio!published at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    Thanks for joining us for that full on day of WSL action. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

    You can catch up on all of the match reports and key talking points here.

    We hope you join us again soon! Cheerio.

  2. Table talkpublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    So after that full day of WSL action here's how the table stands.

    Chelsea remain five points clear of City at the top after a ninth successive win.

    Arsenal and United's wins have them sat level on points in third and fourth.

    WSL top sixImage source, BBC Sport

    At the bottom the big winners of the day were West Ham, who pulled clear of the relegation spot with a five goal hammering of Crystal Palace.

    WSL bottom sixImage source, BBC Sport
  3. 'West Ham showed character'published at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    FT: West Ham 5-2 Crystal Palace

    Anita Asante
    Former England defender on BBC One

    Manuela Pavi of West Ham United celebrates after scoringImage source, Getty Images

    The character West Ham showed in the second half was really impressive. They took the momentum from the first half into the second. They were more solid defensively. Going forward, they were clinical in those critical moments.

    We heard the noise and excitement when they scored here and they have that support from the home crowd.

    Crystal Palace will be hugely disappointed. They had the control and dominated the game. They also had the chances to go further ahead, but they didn't capitalise.

  4. Postpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    FT: West Ham 5-2 Crystal Palace

    That three points moves Rehanne Skinner's side up to eighth place in the table, three clear of Palace at the bottom.

    The five goals scored also puts them nine clear of the Eagles on goal difference, which could also be huge for their survival chances.

    The victory also saw West Ham record back to back home wins for the first time since 2022 during the reign of Olli Harder.

  5. 'It's a massive six-pointer'published at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    FT: West Ham 5-2 Crystal Palace

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC One

    West Ham upped their level in the second half, but Crystal Palace did not.

    It's important to get wins over teams in and around you at the bottom of the table. It's a massive six-pointer for West Ham. It's a huge win for them.

    One win can change so much for you, but there are plenty of games still to be played. I think the results you get against the sides near you will be the defining factor this season.

  6. FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 5-2 Crystal Palace

    Manuela Pavi of West Ham United celebrates with Viviane Asseyi after scoringImage source, Getty Images

    A massive, massive win for West Ham who fight back from two goals down to claim London derby bragging rights.

    Crystal Palace drop points from a winning position for a fourth time in five games, as they remain rock bottom of the table.

    How crucial could this result prove to be in the relegation battle?

  7. 'Palace completely switched off'published at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 5-2 Crystal Palace

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC One

    Katrina Gorry will claim the goal though it has taken a deflection on its way. She still has to be there to rifle it into the back of the net. She is also someone who has had a good second half.

    Palace have completely switched off in this second half.

  8. goal

    GOAL - West Ham 5-2 Crystal Palacepublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    Katrina Gorry (90+3 mins)

    It's five!

    Crystal Palace are at odds and ends in their own box and Hammers captain Katrina Gorry arrives at the back post to smash the ball into the roof of the net via a deflection.

  9. 'Denton has stepped up'published at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 4-2 Crystal Palace

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC One

    Anouk Denton scored the all-important fourth goal for West Ham and she has stepped up with her defending in the second half too. She is my player of the match today.

  10. Postpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 4-2 Crystal Palace

    West Ham continue to take the opportunities to break forward.

    The ball is worked out to Seraina Piubel on the right but her delivery is skewed onto the roof of the net.

  11. Postpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 4-2 Crystal Palace

    In all honesty it hasn't been a 4-2 sort of game.

    Crystal Palace were very good in the first half but they have been made to pay for wasteful finishing.

    That Annabel Blanchard chance at 2-1, that could have given Palace a two goal cushion, will be marked as the crucial turning point.

  12. YELLOW CARDpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 4-2 Crystal Palace

    With the game all but over now the frustration is starting to show for the visitors.

    Lexi Potter is the next player to go into the book for a cynical shirt pull just short of the halfway line.

  13. 'Defence opened up for Denton'published at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 4-2 Crystal Palace

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC One

    Anouk Denton is a young player and I was about to say she has been much better defensively in the second half.

    She picked the ball up there and the defence just opened up for her. Everyone ran in the opposite direction from her.

    It's poor defending from the whole of the Palace team.

  14. goal

    GOAL - West Ham 4-2 Crystal Palacepublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    Anouk Denton (83 mins)

    Anouk Denton of West Ham United celebrates with teammates after scoring to make it 4-2Image source, Getty Images

    Game, set and match West Ham.

    Anouk Denton charges up the pitch from full back and Crystal Palace players just back off her.

    She is allowed to run right up to the edge of the box and shoot, curling the ball into the bottom corner beyond the helpless Shae Yanez.

  15. 'Both teams have tightened up'published at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC One

    Crystal Palace had a really good first half even though they were 3-2 down going into the break, but they have been a lot more flatter after the restart.

    Both teams have tightened up and there's a lot more bodies around the ball as well. Everyone's in and around the ball, unlike in the first half.

  16. CLOSE!published at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

    Riko Ueki has a golden chance to seal the points for West Ham. She heads at goal from just inside the six yard box but it is blocked off the line.

  17. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

    One last throw of the dice for Palace?

    Molly-Mae Sharpe comes on to offer fresh energy, replacing Hayley Nolan.

  18. Postpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

    Nervous moments in the Palace defence as they start to look increasingly tired.

    Katrine Veje collects Kirsty Smith's long ball over the top but is immediately put under pressure by two West Ham forwards.

    Veje hesitates for a moment but is able to evade the challenges and hook the ball clear.

  19. Postpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

    West Ham just seem content to sit back and hit Palace on the counter. With the lead well in their grasps there's no need for them to go full throttle in attack.

    Katrina Gorry sends a long ball forward for Riko Ueki to chase but Katrine Veje is on hand to mop up the danger.

  20. 'West Ham defending well'published at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC One

    Crystal Palace have not been able to get past the first defender with their crosses. West Ham have dealt with Palace's attacks well in the second half. They were very passive with their defending in the first half.