Manchester City remain the only Women’s Super League team with a perfect record after Matchweek 3, while Tottenham Hotspur produced the biggest result of the weekend with a remarkable 7-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
Chelsea and London City Lionesses also collected three points, Everton left it until stoppage time to beat West Ham United and Arsenal needed a 95th-minute equaliser to rescue a point against Manchester United. Just like Aston Villa who equalised late. Here is our complete recap of the third round of the 2026/27 WSL season.
Manchester City 4-2 Liverpool
Manchester City made it three wins from three, but Liverpool gave the defending champions their toughest test of the season so far.
Lauren Hemp opened the scoring after 13 minutes before Liverpool’s aggressive press turned the match around. Alice Bergström equalised six minutes later and Vivien Endemann put the visitors ahead after another City mistake.
Khadija Shaw restored parity in first-half stoppage time, but Liverpool continued to frustrate City after the break, with goalkeeper Rachael Keating producing several excellent saves. The decisive moment finally arrived in the 90th minute when Grace Clinton’s delivery was turned into her own goal by Grace Fisk.
Hemp then capitalised on another Liverpool error to score her second and complete a 4-2 victory in stoppage time. The scoreline did not entirely reflect how competitive Liverpool had been, but City’s ability to find a way through keeps their 100 per cent record intact.
Result: Manchester City 4-2 Liverpool
Charlton Athletic 1-4 London City Lionesses
Isobel Goodwin scored twice in two minutes as London City Lionesses responded to their defeat against West Ham with an impressive 4-1 victory at The Valley.
Alexia Putellas created the opener with a superb pass behind the Charlton defence, allowing Goodwin to score her first goal of the campaign. Daniela Arques then split the defence with another excellent ball and Goodwin confidently added her second.
Jodie Hutton gave Charlton hope with a powerful finish six minutes before half-time, but that hope did not last long. Jana Fernández restored London’s two-goal advantage before the break, with her header taking a deflection off Ellie Mason.
Nicole Anyomi completed the scoring in the 76th minute after Danielle van de Donk’s effort was saved. Goodwin could even have completed a hat-trick, while London City created further chances late on. It leaves the Lionesses with six points from three matches, while newly promoted Charlton remain without a point.
Result: Charlton Athletic 1-4 London City Lionesses
Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham City
Chelsea made it back-to-back victories after beating Birmingham City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Lexi Potter opened the scoring after only eight minutes, reacting after Alyssa Thompson’s initial attempt was saved by Sophie Baggaley.
Chelsea created enough chances to put the match beyond Birmingham early, but once again struggled to turn their attacking dominance into goals.
That allowed the visitors to remain in contention. Wilma Leidhammar had a good opportunity to equalise, while substitute Suzu Amano also threatened as Birmingham grew into the match.
Melvine Malard eventually gave Chelsea breathing room late on. The summer signing punished Millie Turner’s poor back-header, beating Baggaley to the ball and scoring on her WSL debut for the club.
Malard’s impact could prove particularly useful for Sonia Bompastor. Chelsea have created chances in huge numbers during the opening weeks but have not always converted them efficiently.
Result: Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham City
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United
Arsenal left it until the 95th minute to rescue a point against Manchester United. The hosts had opportunities throughout the first half, with Stina Blackstenius seeing a header tipped over by Phallon Tullis-Joyce, while United also tested Misa Rodríguez through Elisabeth Terland.
The breakthrough eventually went United’s way in the second half. Georgia Stanway lost possession in a dangerous area and Julia Zigiotti took advantage, racing through before finishing between Rodríguez’s legs.
Arsenal increased the pressure as the match progressed, but Tullis-Joyce repeatedly kept them out. United were seconds away from victory when Smilla Holmberg finally found the equaliser. Leah Williamson delivered to the far post and Holmberg finished into the roof of the net in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
It was a dramatic escape for Arsenal and a painful finish for United after coming so close to taking all three points.
Result: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United
West Ham United 0-1 Everton
For the second consecutive week, Everton won a WSL match courtesy of an opposition own goal. There was little between Everton and West Ham at Victoria Road, and both teams struggled to convert promising situations into clear chances.
Riko Ueki was West Ham’s biggest threat before being forced off with a leg problem, while Hannah Silcock and Zara Kramzar both passed up good opportunities for Everton.
The decisive moment came four minutes into stoppage time. Yuka Momiki delivered a dangerous free-kick into the West Ham penalty area and Laia Codina inadvertently headed the ball beyond Constance Picaud.
It was a cruel ending for West Ham and gave Everton consecutive victories after their opening defeat.
Result: West Ham United 0-1 Everton
Crystal Palace 0-7 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham produced the statement result of Matchweek 3 with an extraordinary seven-goal second half against Crystal Palace. The afternoon changed after just seven minutes when Palace’s Fuka Tsunoda received a straight red card for her challenge on Cathinka Tandberg.
Palace nevertheless survived until half-time without conceding, but their resistance collapsed after the restart. Olivia Holdt broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half and went on to complete a hat-trick. Victoria Pelova scored twice, while Shekiera Martinez and Amanda Nildén also found the net.
Spurs finished with an enormous 42 shots, 13 of them on target. Palace had entered the match as the only WSL team yet to concede this season. Ninety minutes later, that record had disappeared in emphatic fashion. For Tottenham, it was comfortably the most eye-catching attacking performance of the weekend.
Result: Crystal Palace 0-7 Tottenham Hotspur
Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa
Brighton will wonder how they failed to collect their first WSL victory after dominating Aston Villa at the Amex. Arturo Ruiz’s team registered 25 shots and 17 corners, but only had Gabby George’s first-half goal to show for their dominance.
George scored on her Brighton debut after Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma parried Caitlin Hayes’ header and Lynn Wilms’ attempted clearance rebounded off the post.
Brighton continued to create opportunities but could not find the second goal. That proved costly. Villa had managed no shots on target until the 89th minute, when Wilms’ corner travelled directly into the Brighton net to produce a remarkable late equaliser.
Brighton protested that goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie had been obstructed, but the goal stood. Both clubs therefore remain without a league victory after three matches, sitting on two points apiece.
Result: Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa
What we learned from WSL Matchweek 3
Manchester City are setting the early pace. Three games and three victories puts the champions in the strongest possible position, although Liverpool demonstrated that Andrée Jeglertz’s side can be vulnerable when aggressively pressed.
Tottenham are becoming one of the most interesting early-season stories. Seven goals against Palace takes their strong start another step forward, even allowing for the hosts playing most of the match with ten players.
Chelsea remain right behind City and have now responded to their opening draw with consecutive victories. London City also move onto six points after an excellent attacking display at Charlton.
At the other end, Charlton’s return to the WSL has started with three consecutive defeats, while Brighton and Aston Villa are still waiting for their first wins. It is only Matchweek 3, but the first patterns of the 2026/27 season are beginning to emerge.
With three rounds now played, the individual races are beginning to take shape too. You can follow the WSL top scorers for 2026/27 and the WSL top assists for 2026/27 throughout the season, with both rankings updated as the campaign progresses.
WSL Matchweek 3 recap
Leave a Reply