CITY CRUISE SEES BLUES GO SECOND

MANCHESTER CITY’S woes continued as champions Chelsea battered them 4-0 to move within a point of leaders Arsenal.

Jessie Fleming, Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby and Magdalena Eriksson were all on target for Emma Hayes’ side.

Injury-hit City, who are now ninth, did not play badly overall but were ruthlessly punished for individual errors.

Fleming netted after just 66 seconds when Karima Taieb gave the ball straight to her.

The keeper, under pressure from Kerr, messed up a simple pass to Alex Greenwood and paid the price.

Ann-katrin Berger denied Caroline Weir an equaliser with a superb stop but was then lucky not to concede a penalty.

The Chelsea keeper came charging out and clattered Lauren Hemp without getting the ball.

But when Georgia Stanway was robbed of possession in the centre circle just before half-time Chelsea took full advantage.

Kirby’s header from Ji So-yun’s ball to the back post was perfect for Kerr to hook home from close range (above).

City were shellshocked and Kirby curled home a 51st minute third before skipper Eriksson (top) made it 4-0 four minutes later with a header from a corner.

Everton picked up their first point under new boss Jean-luc Vasseur, also thanks to a keeper clanger.

Manchester United had to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw despite Ella Toone firing them ahead after nine minutes.

But Simone Magill capitalised on a defensive mix-up to poke home a 76th-minute equaliser.

Defender Maria Thorisdottir failed to clear a through ball as keeper Mary Earps came to collect but Magill nipped in to nick it past her.

United boss Marc Skinner said: “That should not be a goal – either the keeper takes it or Maria has to clear it.”

Anita Asante’s first-half header was enough for a 1-0 derby win for Aston Villa at Birmingham. Reading came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at West Ham, who led through Lisa Evans and Grace Fisk. An Abbey-leigh Stringer own goal in the 70th minute put Reading back in the game, before Emma Harries’ last-gasp header was controversially adjudged to have crossed the line.

Maisie Symonds’ stoppage-time free-kick earned Brighton a 1-0 win at home to Leicester, who remain pointless after seven games.