Crystal Palace earned a vital three points against Aston Villa with a 3-1 victory at home in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
The result draws Palace to within a point of safety, as the relegation battle looks set to go to the wire.
Elsewhere, Liverpool earned their first win at Anfield with a 3-1 win over Manchester United on Friday night while Arsenal got past Everton on the road.
Brighton & Hove Albion returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Palace get past Villa
Crystal Palace overcame fellow strugglers Aston Villa 3-1 to breathe fresh life into their battle to avoid relegation.
The Eagles went into the break in front Aniek Nouwen’s header before Ashleigh Weerden doubled the lead soon after the restart with a 20-yard strike.
Lucy Parker pulled one back for Villa in the 89th minute but it would prove scant consolation as Palace’s Katie Stengel added a third late on to wrap up a vital three points.
Toffees downed by Russo brace
Arsenal bounced back from their Adobe Women’s FA Cup exit to Liverpool with a 3-1 victory over Everton.
Alessia Russo fired Arsenal out in front in the 24th minute, with Everton equalising through Toni Payne 12 minutes later.
The restart saw the Gunners go back in front after Maren Mjelde turned the ball into her own net from an Emily Fox cross before Renee Slegers’ side wrapped up their victory through Russo’s second of the night and 15th goal of the season to move up to second place.
United stunned by Reds
Olivia Smith powered Liverpool to a first victory at Anfield thanks to a 3-1 win over rivals Manchester United.
The hosts took the lead after 41 minutes when Smith broke into the box and fired past Phallon Tullis-Joyce to finish a fine individual move.
With United still reeling, the Reds extended their lead through Fuka Nagano’s first goal for the club, before Smith added a third from the spot after Jayde Riviere brought down Alejandra Bernabe inside the penalty area.
United captain Maya Le Tissier secured a consolation late on but it would not be enough to prevent her side from tasting defeat for the first time in eight Barclays Women’s Super League matches.
Kirby downs Spurs
Brighton & Hove Albion edged past Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 to end a run of seven Barclays Women’s Super League fixtures without victory.
Fran Kirby sent the Seagulls into the lead just before half time when she tapped home from Rachel McLauchlan’s cutback.
Dario Vidosic’s side almost went ahead early on Marisa Olislagers forced Tottenham goalkeeper Lize Lop into action before being denied by the Spurs shot-stopper once more just minutes later.
But Brighton would find a way past the Netherlands international when another effort from Olislagers was deflected into the feet of MacLauchlan, who squared it to Kirby to fire home and send her side into fifth.
