Chelsea won the first trophy of the season thanks to a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the Subway Women's League Cup, while Crystal Palace picked up an important win
Chelsea overcame Manchester City 2-1
Chelsea overcame Manchester City 2-1
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The Subway Women's League Cup final headlined an action-packed programme of women's football as league leaders Chelsea overcame Manchester City 2-1 to claim Sonia Bompastor's first piece of silverware in English football.
Elsewhere, Liverpool continued their resurgence under Amber Whiteley with a shock 3-1 win over high-flying Manchester United at Anfield while Arsenal bounced back from their FA Cup quarter-final exit last weekend by defeating Everton.
Chelsea strike first blow over City
Chelsea claimed the first silverware of Sonia Bompastor's reign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the Subway Women's League Cup final.
Yui Hasegawa's own goal 13 minutes from time proved the decider in a tight final, after Aoba Fujino's brilliant individual effort had cancelled out Mayra Ramirez's early opener for Chelsea.
Ramirez bundled home on the second attempt after just eight minutes to put the Blues in front, and the Colombian could have doubled the lead but fluffed her lines when clean through on goal.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was also guilty of missing a big chance, and City duly got themselves back in the contest through Fujino just after the hour mark.
However it was Chelsea who got over the line, as they so often do, with Hasegawa unable to prevent her clearance from finding the net.
The two WSL heavyweights' clash in Derby marked the first of four meetings between the two inside 12 days, as they meet in the league and Champions League.
Chelsea celebrate
Chelsea celebrate
Russo double sinks Toffees
An Alessia Russo double saw Arsenal bounce back from their FA Cup exit to Liverpool last weekend with a 3-1 victory over Everton.
The Gunners took the lead through Russo in the 24th minute, only for Everton to equalise through Toni Payne 12 minutes later after a misplaced pass from Lia Walti to ensure the sides entered the break level.
After the restart, an Emily Fox cross saw Maren Mjelde turn the ball into her own net to restore Arsenal's advantage, 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.
Arsenal beat Everton
Arsenal beat Everton
Smith strikes down United title hopes
Olivia Smith struck twice to fire FA Cup semi-finalists Liverpool to a stunning 3-1 defeat of Manchester United at Anfield.
The hosts took the lead after 41 minutes when Smith burst into the box and fired past Phallon Tullis-Joyce at the near post to leave the Kop roaring.
With the Anfield faithful still celebrating, the Reds doubled their advantage when Fuka Nagano netted her first goal for the club on the stroke of half time to leave United reeling.
Things went from bad to worse for Marc Skinner's side when Alejandra Bernabe was tripped in the box by Jayde Riviere, with Smith confidently extending Liverpool's lead from the spot to further dent United's title aspirations.
The visitors pulled one back through captain Maya Le Tissier but it was too little too late as Liverpool continued their resurgence under interim coach Amber Whiteley.
Eagles down Villans
Crystal Palace claimed their second win of the league campaign after dispatching fellow strugglers Aston Villa 3-1.
Aniek Nouwen nodded the Eagles in front when she rose to head home just after the half-hour mark, with Ashleigh Weerden adding another not long after the restart when she cut inside before rifling an effort past Villa keeper Sabrina D'Angelo from 20 yards out.
Villa handed themselves a lifeline late on after Lucy Parker latched onto a corner kick inside the box to fire home but any dreams of a reversal were put to bed when Katie Stengel rolled the ball into an empty net for Palace's third.
Palace remain in the relegation zone but are now just one point behind Villa and three adrift of Leicester City.
Seagulls edge past Spurs
Brighton & Hove Albion ended a run of seven WSL fixtures without victory after narrowly seeing off Tottenham Hotspur 1-0.
Fran Kirby edged her side into the lead just three minutes before half time, with the Seagulls assured in possession and enjoying the better of proceedings throughout.
Dario Vidosic's side almost took the lead when Tottenham goalkeeper Lize Kop scrambled away Marisa Olislagers' goalbound effort before denying the Netherlands international minutes later.
But Kop was beaten when another strike from Olislagers took a deflection off the face of Ella Morris and into the path of Rachel McLauchlan before the Scot sent the ball to Kirby to comfortably nestle into the bottom corner.
The result sees Brighton climb above Liverpool into fifth place, with Tottenham in seventh.