WSL round-up: Arsenal edge Spurs as Alessia Russo scores only goal, Catarina Macario nets on Chelsea debut

Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the north London derby in front of a sold-out Emirates Stadium, while Chelsea beat Leicester to return to the top of the Women’s Super League on Sunday.

An instinctive Alessia Russo strike proved the difference between the two sides following an entertaining clash.

The Gunners, needing a victory to keep pace in the title race, dominated the first half, forcing Spurs back but the visitors proved a danger on the counter-attack.

Goalless at half-time, the match hadn't lacked for chances but neither side had made them count.

The breakthrough, when it came, was worth the wait.

A delightful floated pass from Kim Little found Beth Mead at the far post, who killed the ball with an excellent touch. Under heavy pressure from scrambling Spurs defenders, Mead couldn't get the shot away but forced the ball to the feet of Russo who fired home from point-blank range.

It marked Mead's record 40th assist for Arsenal, the most in the division's history for a single club.

The visitors had their best period of the match after Russo's goal and continued to press through seven minutes of stoppage time with Beth England coming agonisingly close to scoring, but they couldn't find an equaliser.

After a strong start to the season, Spurs have slipped into mid-table and can only look on as their rivals remain hot on the heels of leaders Manchester City.

For Arsenal, an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa beckons before they return to WSL action with a mouth-watering trip to face Chelsea in mid-March.

Chelsea moved back to the top of the table with a 4-0 win over Leicester, as Catarina Macario ended 20 months of injury torment with a goal on her Blues debut.

The champions saw Manchester City move top 24 hours earlier with a 2-1 win over Everton.

Emma Hayes’ side delivered the required response with a win on the road at the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes did not make life easy, as they kept Chelsea at bay for 38 minutes before Nathalie Bjorn turned home a loose ball from a corner.

Chelsea nerves were eased a minute before the break as Mayra Ramirez broke away from the halfway line and held off Julie Thibaud before rounding goalkeeper Lize Kop and slotting home.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd added a third on 64 minutes, before the night was stolen by Macario.

The United States international tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the summer of 2022, and joined Chelsea one year later.

Her return to action was delayed to work on her recovery, but Hayes handed her a Chelsea debut from the bench.

It proved a debut to remember, as Macario collected a pass, took one touch and fired home on 78 minutes.

Elsewhere, Brighton won an astonishing match with Bristol City 7-3.

At Ashton Gate, in a veritable relegation six-pointer Elisabeth Terland got Brighton off to a strong start with the opening goal after 20 minutes. The Norway forward made it 10 goals in 15 appearances as she pounced on a loose ball from a corner.

Pauline Bremer doubled the Seagulls' lead four minutes later, collecting the rebound after her initial shot cannoned back off the post.

Captain Megan Connolly gave City a lifeline with a 47th-minute goal from a free kick, but Terland whipped a shot into the net just seven minutes later to restore the visitors' buffer.

Brighton got their fourth from a corner with Tatiana Pinto heading home, before Brooke Aspin pulled a goal back for the hosts with 20 minutes to play. Four minutes later she turned creator for Amalie Thestrup. Thestrup smashed home and suddenly the hosts had hope.

But the hosts soon ran riot. Madison Haley popped up to make it 5-3 the 89th minute, before Vicky Losada scored a penalty in injury time and Katie Robinson struck the 10th and final goal of a sensationally bizarre match.

Defeat leaves City eight points behind Brighton with seven games to play and with 45 goals conceded, 14 more than the next worst defence.

Liverpool strengthened their position in upper mid-table with a 4-1 win over Aston Villa at Bescot Stadium.

There was a touch of fortune in their opener, with Grace Fisk's strike taking a big deflection early in the match.

Sophie Haug doubled the Reds' advantage when she tapped in from Jasmine Matthews' floated cross in the 29th minute after goalkeeper Mia Enderby came and missed.

Kirsty Hanson won a penalty for Villa shortly before the break, with Sarah Mayling converting the spot-kick to reduce the arrears.

Emma Koivisto made it 3-1 to Liverpool with Enderby again unable to reach a Matthews cross. Koivisto sealed the points with her second of the afternoon in the 82nd minute.

Viviane Asseyi netted a late goal as West Ham came from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester United.

The Red Devils went in front on four minutes when Rachel Williams netted her 50th Super League goal, but they were denied the three points when West Ham went the length of the field in three passes before Asseyi scored a stunning chip from the edge of the box.

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