Sam Kerr scores for Chelsea against Manchester United

A superb first-half goal from Sam Kerr gave Chelsea a 1-0 home win against Manchester United on Sunday to see the Blues edge past their rivals and secure first place in the Women’s Super League table.

Chelsea are now on pole position in the table with 37 points after 14 of the season’s 22 league games, two points ahead of United and with a game in hand.

It was a tense encounter at Kingsmeadow, which saw United keeper Mary Earps make two early saves from Kerr after Chelsea came in from behind United’s tall backline. But the visitors’ defense ignored the warning and the Australian was lucky for the third time.

Lauren James threw a superbly weighted long ball behind defense in the 23rd minute and Kerr chested it before lifting it over Earps for a great finish that put the Australian 22nd in all competitions this season brought goals.

Alessia Russo had a huge chance to equalize 12 minutes later for United but her snap flew straight for Ann Katrin Berger. United had also refused a powerful penalty when Nikita Parris was brought down by Kadeisha Buchanan.

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United lacked composure in the second half and they did little to threaten Chelsea’s goal, leaving Kerr’s strike enough for the Blues to secure a crucial win.

Elsewhere, third-placed Manchester City defeated a battered Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 thanks to a brace from Khadija Shaw to make the most of United’s slip and go level on points with their city rivals.

Liverpool full-back Emma Koivisto scored a goal and set up another as her side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, while Everton held bottom Leicester City to a goalless draw and Aston Villa beat West Ham United 2-1.