Natasha Dowie
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

It's quite simple at the end of the day. Big players step up in moments like this. Manchester United have been ruthless today and the goals changed the momentum.

Liverpool need to go back to the basics. They need to get their players fit and be defensively strong. They need to get clean sheets. It was something they were good at last season.

United made the most of getting the back-to-back goals and really dominated from then on. It's the kind of performance their fans have been waiting for a long time.

Leicester get us back under way in Manchester.

Out of nowhere, Tottenham have a penalty!

The referee saw something as the players waited for a Spurs corner and Bethany England has the chance to put the hosts back in front.

Back under way for the second half!

Aha, the official stream has finally started from Emirates Stadium.

But there's no commentary, no scoreboard and no clock.

A bright start from Chelsea, as you would expect.

The home side are pressing high and putting pressure on Brighton, who want to play out regardless of the danger that is posing.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Joie Stadium

Hahaha. Man City just did a half-time race with some fans and the winner was the first to touch a plastic Christmas tree.

It was set to be a photo finish but one extra-eager runner put in a slide at the end to take the crown; but also completely wiped out the tree, City mascot and half-time presenter.

Everyone is OK and is seeing the funny side of things.

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We are also under way at Emirates Stadium.

Although if you are trying to watch on YouTube, the official WSL stream has not started yet...

Under way at Kingsmeadow as Chelsea look to maintain their perfect start.

Emily Fox has fallen in love with playing for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, which was "the icing on top" in her decision to sign for the club.

Before completing her move to England, she watched from the stands as Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 there in front of a record crowd.

"It was just the icing on top in terms of this is where I want to be," added Fox. "It was really inspiring.

"I had gone through all the behind-the-scenes things and I think just watching the team play, experiencing the Emirates, the crowd, how passionate everyone was for women's football and how amazing they all played."

This game against Aston Villa is the 10th time the Arsenal women's team have played there in this calendar year, with the Gunners having lost just once, to Chelsea in October.

The club made the Emirates the main stadium for the women's team for the 2024-25 campaign.

Eight WSL games are being played there, as well as home games in the Women's Champions League, with the exception of their final Group C game against Bayern Munich, which was moved because of a scheduling clash with the men's team.

Sonia Bompastor is unbeaten in her last 30 home games as a manager across all competition (W27 D3), since a 1-0 loss with Lyon to current side Chelsea in the 2022-23 Women’s Champions League.

Her Chelsea side are comfortably the leading WSL scorers this season with 26 goals - 10 ahead of Manchester City.

Will it be nine wins from nine today?

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Arsenal defender Emily Fox said she has been "pushed and challenged" in a successful first year with the club.

The 26-year-old USA international joined the Gunners from National Women's Soccer League side North Carolina Courage in January.

"The transition was so smooth and I felt right away like it worked," she told BBC Sport as she approaches the anniversary of when she joined the club.

"Coming here, nothing is given in the sense of will you do well, will you not do well? I looked at it as a challenge and I wanted to join a league and be uncomfortable and push myself.

"That is how I look at the success of it. I have been pushed, I have been challenged. Playing in the WSL and against some of the best players in the world, I have been able to embrace that and be a part of it."

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A comprehensive victory over their rivals for United.

They go third in the WSL.

Arsenal

Arsenal interim boss Renee Slegers will remain in charge until the new year but says the club is doing "a really good job" to find a permanent manager.

The Gunners have been without a manager since Jonas Eidevall's departure in October but remain unbeaten in all competitions under Slegers' leadership.

"I'm happy to contribute to the team. I was really happy in the role I was contributing in before, and now I'm stepping in doing this," said Slegers.

"I think there's such a big group of people doing a really good job - players and staff - and I want to highlight everyone. I enjoy the role and the togetherness.

"A permanent manager is best for the club, obviously. We need to plan ahead because we don't know when the permanent manager will be here.

"I know the club is doing a really good job to try and find the right manager for the future."

What a start Sonia Bompastor is enjoying as Chelsea manager.

No manager has ever started their WSL career as well as Emma Hayes' successor, with eight wins from eight this campaign establishing an already ominous-looking five-point gap at the summit.

Chelsea have now won 11 consecutive league games, meaning they require just four more wins to set a new WSL record.

Today they meet Brighton, having won each of the last four WSL meetings between the teams, with that historic achievement very much within their sights.

Victory today would equal the longest ever winning start to a WSL, matching Arsenal's nine-in-a-row in 2018-19.

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There are another two WSL games kicking off at 2pm, including leaders Chelsea. Non-stop action!

Image source, Reuters

That's that for the first half in Manchester.

Man City dominated for the most part without being particularly threatening but then again when you've got Khadija Shaw in your forward line you always carry a threat.

The Jamaican's two goals are the difference at the break.

Simi Awujo has been booked for treading on Ceri Holland's foot.

Six minutes are added on.

Ruby Mace is in another spot of bother here as she looks to have been caught by the stray arm of Jill Roord.

A sore one for her but there was no bad intent in the challenge.

Image source, Getty Images

A stunning Sara Holmgaard strike means the sides go in level at the break, following a first half which Spurs dominated.