The free-kick from Beth Mead is a harmless one and Birmingham City try spring forward again.

You wouldn't know which team is bottom and which is top going by this opening 20 minutes.

Postpublished at 20 mins

20 mins

Reading 1-0 Leicester City

Leicester's Abby Grant has a couple of minutes of treatment on the pitch, eventually hobbling to the touchline with what looks like a knee problem, but she's soldiering on for now.

Arsenal have a free-kick near the corner flag.

Emily Ramsey scampers out of her box to try see the ball out, but she body checks Beth Mead in the process.

Birmingham City are content to let Arsenal have all the ball so far, but they are also containing the Gunners well.

Fifteen minutes have come and gone and the visitors are yet to create a chance.

Birmingham City's ambitions to upstage Arsenal is clear for all to see. They are taking it right to the Gunners.

Veatriki Sarri has a go from outside the the box, but her shot is always rising over the bar.

Arsenal have not got going so far. Jordan Nobbs sends a cross in for the WSL leaders, but it's too close to the keeper and is plucked out of the air.

Birmingham City have looked bright in these early few minutes.

Jen Beattie gives the ball away after a heavy touch in defence.

Jade Pennock pounces on the loose ball and runs at the Gunners. She opts for an early shot, but is a long way off target. Still, it's another very clear warning shot that Blues are up for this.

It's the WSL's most prolific attack and best defence against the competition's lowest scorers and leakiest defence.

No doubt this is a big ask for Birmingham.

We are under way in this one and also at Reading where they host Leicester City.

The postponement of Chelsea's game against Tottenham on Friday means WSL leaders Arsenal can move seven points clear at the summit with victory against bottom side Birmingham City today.

Blues boss Darren Carter wants his players to remain "positive" and to to "impose themselves" on the competition pacesetters.

"Every team has their weaknesses, of course. Arsenal are a team that play very expansive, are very good with the ball and rotate in the middle area of the pitch," he said.

"But we think we can identify a few things that can pose them a question. They dominate games but there are times you can go at them. I will never be a coach or a manager that soaks up pressure.

"I want us to attack games and impose ourselves."

Six second-half goals sees Manchester City start 2022 in stunning fashion.

It started with an own goal which Lauren Hemp helped create and included long-awaited returns from Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze.

Hemp's goals, which was City's second, was the pick of them today. You can watch it above.

Just one minute of this thumping Manchester City victory at Brighton remains.

Reading manager Kelly Chambers hands a debut to Denmark midfielder Sanne Troelsgaard, 33, who joined last month after spending the past four years with Swedish club FC Rosengard.

The only other change from their last league match sees defender Deanna Cooper start, with defender Faye Bryson and midfielder Chloe Peplow dropping out.

Leicester also give a debut to Scotland forward Abbi Grant, who joined club in the summer from Birmingham City. New teenage signings winger Freya Gregory and forward Missy Goodwin are named on the bench.

Manager Lydia Bedford brings defender Jemma Purfield into the starting line-up in her second change from the side that claimed their first victory over the season over Birmingham last time out.

There will be three minutes of injury time to come.

We also have more games to come. Team news from Reading's game against Leicester will come next.

Maya Le Tissier is all that stands between Manchester City and a seventh goal.

She gets back onto the line to block a shot from Ellen White, who will wonder how she hasn't got amongst this second-half avalanche of goals.

Meagan Walsh makes a double save to twice deny Janine Beckie.

Walsh's second block almost drifts into the path of Ellen White, but Brighton scramble it clear.

Brighton are almost gifted a consolation goal late on.

Manchester City invite trouble on themselves trying to play the ball out from the back.

Steph Houghton sends a stray pass across the top of the box, which Maisie Symonds pounces on. Her touch, however, is heavy and City clear the danger.

Filippa Angeldal is keen to get amongst the goas now, but fails to hit the target.

Everything has gone in for City in the second half, so why not have a crack.