Lauren James keeps Chelsea unbeaten with second-half equaliser at Brighton

Chelsea maintained their unbeaten record in the Women’s Super League by hitting back to scrape a 2-2 draw away to Brighton thanks to Lauren James’ second-half equaliser.

Sonia Bompastor handed a debut to world-record signing Naomi Girma and her side took the lead against the run of play when Sandy Baltimore volleyed in.

Marisa Olislagers and captain Vicky Losada turned the game around to put the Seagulls ahead at half-time and on course for a shock first win in seven league games, only for James to snatch a point for the league leaders in the 61st minute.

Second-placed Manchester United extend their winning run in the WSL to seven games as two first-half goals moved them to within five points of the top with a 2-0 victory over Leicester.

Melvine Malard opened the scoring with a cool finish past Janina Leitzig and then turned provider for Leah Galton to double the lead with a low strike moments before the break.

Aoba Fujino scored late in the second half at Brisbane Road to secure Manchester City a 2-1 victory over Tottenham.

Vivianne Miedema nodded the visitors in front in the 11th minute but Spurs, who had looked in charge early on, equalised through Bethany England just after the half-hour mark.

City were re-energised by a triple change midway through the second half and earned the win in the 78th minute when Japan forward Fujino cut inside and lashed a left-footed shot high into the net for her first WSL goal.

Liverpool shrugged off the sacking of manager Matt Beard to claim a 1-0 win over bottom side Crystal Palace, for whom new boss Leif Smerud was taking charge for the first time after replacing the sacked Laura Kaminski on Saturday.

Beard’s second term at the club was ended on Thursday after managing just four league wins all season.

His assistant Amber Whiteley was placed in temporary charge and oversaw only a second victory in the last eight league fixtures, thanks to Yasmine Matthews’ early goal.

Everton claimed their first away league victory of the season with a 2-0 success against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The hosts could have drawn level on points with Everton had they claimed a rare victory but remain 11th in the table after goals from Maren Mjelde and Honoka Hayashi in each half.