Once three, now two. The Women’s Super League title race kicked into its next gear as Chelsea thrashed Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, all but ending the Gunners’ title hopes with six points separating them from the top.

But the race is still on, Manchester City ’s 4-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion keeping them in lockstep with the reigning league champions. Meanwhile, Liverpool continued their mission to gate crash the top four with their 3-1 win over West Ham. Victory for Manchester United against Bristol City means Matt Beard’s Reds remain level on points with Marc Skinner’s side.

For Lauren Smith and co, the loss marks their fifth in their last six games, and six points still separating them from their nearest relegation rival in West Ham and eight points off Brighton and Everton, the latter falling to a 2-1 loss against a resurgent Aston Villa.

Below are the talking points from the weekend.

James takes centre-stage, Arsenal take title blow

When Emma Hayes revealed the litany of injuries plaguing her side ahead of Friday’s crucial clash, the whims of the game felt poised only for the Gunners. But the notion that Lauren James is a cheat code hasn’t lost legitimacy. When that cheat code walks out under the Stamford Bridge lights, margins move.

This was arguably one of Chelsea’s best performances: blistering from the start, organised and dogged. Second balls were one and sprints were constant. There was also James, deployed as the No 9 in the absence of record signing Mayra Ramirez, proving impossible to nullify. A half-hour delay due to a farcical kit clash only meant Chelsea put in a half-hour footballing masterclass, scoring three goals in 31 minutes to put the game beyond reach.

Chelsea must navigate the barrage of fixtures coming in the next few weeks with their recent barrage of injuries. Friday evening’s victory suggests they can. For Arsenal, it was a game to forget. A disjointed and uninspiring affair left title hopes in tatters, and their non-white socks apparently back in the Arsenal changing rooms.

Man City keep pace with Chelsea

A title race to go down to the wire? It looks to be another edition this season. City responded to Chelsea’s Friday night thrashing of Arsenal with their own comprehensive victory, a 4-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, marking their 10th successive WSL win.

City are in siege mode, and on Sunday, the goals came from every angle: Lauren Hemp opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark after latching onto a crisp through ball from Jess Park, her sliding strike proving too powerful for Sophie Baggaley. Mary Fowler was at the back post to double City’s advantage before the half, while Khadija Shaw headed home for the third and Laura Coombs’ late run in the box was finished with a fierce finish.

The performance was typical City of late: comprehensive and ruthless. But Brighton showed fight, as well as a willingness to go forward, particularly in the final throes. New Seagulls boss Mikey Harris hailed his side’s spirit, though admitted they’re still on the hunt for a ‘complete’ performance. Lee Geum-min’s late consolation goal meant Gareth Taylor’s side remain lagging behind Chelsea on a goal difference of 34 to 32.

Naalsund brace papers over Man Utd cracks

Bristol City will feel disappointed. In the end, two moments from Lisa Naalsund – United’s only two shots on target throughout the match – cracked an otherwise tenacious and frustrating defensive display from the visitors. Manchester United struggled to flex much of their calibre and Naalsund’s brace papers over an otherwise unconvincing attacking performance.

It’s a familiar tale for the Robins. They’ve made some of the best attacks in the league toil. But it’s been converting opportunities which have proven problematic, and continues to prove so. City have six matches left to bridge the six-point gap to West Ham. They’ve won one game all season and have Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City left to play.

For United, they remain six points behind Arsenal in the hunt for a Champions League spot.

Toffees struggle for points as Villa deserved winners

With 19 points and 14 points respectively, Aston Villa and Everton’s seasons are effectively safe, an impressive feat for Villa who toiled incomprehensibly at the start of the season. And in the end, the three points deserved to go back with Carla Ward’s side. Neither team were notably impressive in the first half, both lacking incision and organisation.

Yet, Villa were good value after the interval with a flurry of chances arriving early on. Kenza Dali opened the scoring in the 55th minute as she found the back of the net with a crisp strike following Rachel Daly’s cheeky backheel to set up the goal. And five minutes later, Ebony Salmon doubled Villa’s lead as she headed home from Jordan Nobbs’ cross.

Everton grew into the game but failed to create many clear-cut opportunities, a theme throughout the season. Elise Stenevik offered a late lifeline as she headed in Aurora Galli’s free-kick, but the Norway international was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time. Everton have failed to secure all three points since 18 February, but with eight points separating them and bottom-of-the-table Bristol City, it’s unlikely any relegation scrap will transpire.

Liverpool’s gatecrashing gathers steam

Is this the year of Liverpool? Matt Beard’s side have become the unlikely gatecrashers of the established top four and that gate crashing is looking all the more likely as the season kicks on. But it was Leanne Kiernan’s day on Sunday, the Ireland international marking St. Patrick’s Day and her first WSL start with a goal to fire Liverpool into the lead just before half-time.

The Reds turned up the notches in the second half, with Missy Bo Kearns and Sophie Roman Haug getting in on the action to leave the Hammers with far too large a mountain to climb, though Riko Ueki could offer a consolation goal with three minutes of regular time remaining.

The victory for Liverpool makes it three WSL wins in three and more importantly keeps them level on points with Manchester United in fourth. Meanwhile, West Ham remain second from the bottom but with a six point gap separating them and Bristol City.

Spurs edge FA Cup semi-final preview

Fifteen seconds was all Tottenham needed in the end. Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn spoke ahead of his side’s match against Leicester of a need to show more attacking verve, and with less than two minutes gone, his team delivered: a beautifully clinical team goal from back to front, Rebecca Spencer quickly getting the move going and Jessica Naz finding Matilda Vinberg at the back post to mark the Sweden international’s first WSL goal since joining the club in January.

If this was to be the FA Cup semi-final warm-up, it was a nightmare for Leicester, who found themselves on the back foot in a game which was far from pretty and failed to wrest anything from it. Tottenham could relished a greater score line, not least in the final minutes as Bethany England latched onto a lovely through ball from Kit Graham but the striker was ruled offside. England hasn’t scored a WSL goal this season, and the wait continues.

Leicester looked guarantee to equalise as Lena Petermann got the better of Ashleigh Neville but her shot cannoned off the inside of the post. The match was scrappy and frayed for large parts, but the opening two minutes were superb with a dash of drama at the end. Leicester must learn their lessons if they’re to get on the right side of the result in the semi-final.