LEIGH, England, Sept 26 (Reuters) – Forward Sam Kerr netted a brace and Fran Kirby scored her 50th Women’s Super League (WSL) goal as champions Chelsea swept aside a sorry Manchester United 6-1 on Sunday and Arsenal thrashed Manchester City 5-0 to go top of the league.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Goals from Vivianne Miedema, Katie McCabe, Leah Williamson and a Kim Little brace put the Gunners top with a maximum nine points from three games, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Chelsea got the day off to a flying start when Kerr made the most of some shoddy defending from United in the second minute to play in Kirby who tapped in from close range.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Pernille Harder doubled their advantage with a fine solo run and dink in the 24th minute.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The visitors piled more misery on United four minutes before the interval as Kerr and Kirby reversed roles for the Australian international to stab home a third.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n United improved after the break and pulled one back through substitute Alessia Russo in the 48th minute but Chelsea restored their three-goal lead almost immediately when Kerr drove home a cross from the right.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Replays, however, suggested the 28-year-old may have been lucky not to be flagged for offside.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Substitutes Drew Pence and Jessie Fleming grabbed a goal each before fulltime, leaving both sides on six points from their opening three games.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In Sunday’s later kickoffs, Tottenham’s Jessica Naz got the only goal of the game in the 85th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Reading that briefly lifted Spurs to the top of the standings before Arsenal’s demolition of City.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Emily Gielnik scored just after halftime as Aston Villa beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 and West Ham thrashed newcomers Leicester City<\/a> 4-0.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n On Saturday, Everton got their first win of the campaign by beating Birmingham City 3-1.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n