Manchester City resumed their title chase with a 2-0 win over Everton on Sunday as the Women's Super League returned after the winter break, but second-placed Chelsea remain in hot pursuit after a 5-0 thumping of West Ham United.
Brazilian forward Kerolin struck a first-half opener for City and Dutch attacker Viviane Miedema added a second in the 63rd minute to secure the win, with Everton's Ireland international goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan pulling off a string of fine saves to keep the score down.
Reigning champions Chelsea, who have won the last six league titles, made the most of a litany of defensive errors by their visitors en route to a comfortable 5-0 victory that had Sandy Baltimore scoring twice.
City top the standings on 33 points with Chelsea, who dropped seven points in a nightmare three-game spell in November and December, second on 27 points.
Title hopefuls Arsenal and Manchester United played out a 0-0 draw in London on Saturday, as the two sides lost ground on the top two. Arsenal are third on 23 points and United fifth on 22.
Tottenham Hotspur climbed into fourth spot, behind Arsenal on goal difference, with a 1-0 win over Leicester City as a goal from a corner that appeared to go in off former Spurs defender Ashleigh Neville gave her old team the three points.
Encouragingly for Spurs, 20-year-old Signe Gaupset was superb on her debut after signing from SK Brann in her native Norway, picking up the player of the match award after an impressive display that lasted just over an hour before she was replaced.
Aston Villa came back from a goal down to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at home. Irish defender Anna Patten played the full game for the Villains, picking up a booking in the first half, while international team mate Caitlin Hayes made a fleeting appearance for the Seagulls at the end.
Liverpool are a point adrift of West Ham at the foot of the table and still without a win after a drab 0-0 draw with London City Lionesses.
Neither side mustered a shot on target at St Helens Stadium in Eder Maestre's first game in charge of the Lionesses.
