There have been big moves at the bottom of the WSL table this weekend, with all three of Liverpool, West Ham and Everton picking up three points – leaving Leicester City at the bottom of the table for the first time.
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 1-0 to continue their sterling form this year and cut City’s lead at the top of the table back to seven points.
Elsewhere, Winonah Heatley helped Roma to a three-point lead in the Serie A Femminile title race, and Morgan Aquino's clean sheet helped DC Power start the new year on the best possible foot.
Read our review of the Matildas Abroad in action below.
England
WSL
Manchester United defeated Leicester City 2-0 to remain second on the table and send Leicester to the bottom. Julia Zigiotti and Elizabeth Terland were the scorers for United. Emily van Egmond started and played the full game for the Foxes.
West Ham came back from 2-0 down in the 82nd minute to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2. Viviane Asseyi scored the dramatic stoppage-time winner to lift West Ham to their third win of the season. Katrina Gorry was introduced for the Hammers midway through the second half to help spark their comeback, while Charlize Rule started for Brighton but was withdrawn in the 60th minute.
Everton secured a much-needed win against London City Lionesses, winning 1-0. Inma Gabarro scored the only goal of the game in the second half. Clare Wheeler started and played the whole game for Everton, while Alanna Kennedy did the same for the Lionesses.
A first-half goal from Olivia Smith meant that Arsenal defeated Manchester City 1-0. It was a much-needed win for Arsenal to keep touch with the UWCL places, while City’s lead at the top of the table is still a healthy seven points. Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord both started for Arsenal, with Kyra Cooney-Cross not in the matchday squad. Mary Fowler was not named in City’s matchday squad as her injury return continues to be managed.
Chelsea secured an important 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur to finish the round. Keira Walsh and Alyssa Thompson were the goal scorers for Chelsea as they retained their place in third on the table. Ellie Carpenter started for Chelsea, with Sam Kerr coming on as a second-half substitute. Clare Hunt started and played the full game for Spurs. Charli Grant is still unavailable for Tottenham with a knee injury.
WSL2
Newcastle United picked up three points that keep them in the promotion race, defeating Southampton 2-1. Jordan Nobbs scored a first-half brace to give them a lead that would ultimately prove unassailable. Kaitlyn Torpey started and played the full match at left-back for the Magpies.
Nottingham Forest went down 2-0 to the league leaders, Charlton Athletic, with a first-half double from Lucy Fitzgerald helping Charlton ensure all 3 points and go five points clear at the top of the table. Alana Murphy made her club debut in the game, starting the game and playing the full 90 minutes.
France
Lyon defeated St-Étienne 4-0 as they remain very safe on top of the league table in France. Teagan Micah was not named in the matchday squad.
Germany
Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in an important European qualification six-pointer. Rebecka Blomqvist scored the only goal of the game in the second half. Hayley Raso was an unused substitute for Frankfurt.
TSG Hoffenheim defeated FC Nürnberg 3-0. Nurnberg fought valiantly after going down to ten players in the 12th minute, but could not hold off Hoffenheim in the end. Jamilla Rankin was a second-half substitute for Hoffenheim.
Italy
Sassuolo picked up a crucial 1-0 victory over Parma to jump five points clear of relegation. Davina Philtjens scored late in the second half to secure the three points. Jessika Nash was introduced late in the second half for Sassuolo, while Jacynta Galabadaarachchi was an unused substitute.
Como fell 2-0 to Juventus on Sunday. Juve scored either side of half-time as they solidified their place in European qualification, and remain within arm’s length of league leaders Roma. Alex Chidiac started and played the full game in midfield for Como.
AS Roma did just enough to overcome AC Milan 1-0. Valentina Bergamaschi was the goalscorer as Roma remain five points clear on top of the table. Winonah Heatley started and played the full game for Roma, helping to keep a clean sheet.
United States
DC Power started the new year in the best possible fashion, defeating top-of-the-table Sporting Jax 1-0 in the USL. Alyssa Walker scored the only goal of the game on her Power debut. Morgan Aquino started between the sticks, making two saves and keeping her third clean sheet of the season.