Continental Tyres Cup: What we've learned from the weekend's action

Reigning FA Women’s Super League champions Chelsea and fellow giants Manchester City kept their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Continental Tyres League Cup in rude health.

Sides from both the top two tiers of the English game returned to cup action on Sunday and there were a raft of plotlines, with Arsenal scoring nine goals and new Liverpool caretaker boss Chris Kirkland seeing his team recover from 3-1 down before earning a bonus point from 12 yards.

Here’s our round-up of a bumper day of cup clashes.

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Man City hold Chelsea in WSL opener

No slip-ups as the Blues march on

Emma Hayes’ Chelsea became the first team to reach nine points in their group as they made it three wins from three with a 4-0 win at second-tier Crystal Palace.

Bethany England was the star of the show, the midfielder hitting a second-half brace while Adelina Engman and Drew Spence were also on target.

The Blues find themselves well in control of proceedings in Group One South, three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

Good things come to those that wait

Manchester City were made to bide their time by Bristol City – but three second-half goals saw them keep themselves in the driving seat in Group One North.

Claire Emslie, Nadia Nadim and Caroline Weir all found the net after the break as the Citizens ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

Victory over the Vixens didn’t just mean that City have made a storming start to their Continental Tyres League Cup campaign – they’re also unbeaten in all competitions so far.

Cloud nine for Gunners as Rookettes are rocked

Vivianne Miedema and Kim Little filled their boots as Arsenal outclassed FA Women’s Championship newcomers Lewes.

The Netherlands striker and Scotland midfielder both bagged hat-tricks as the Gunners blew away the Rookettes 9-0.

Danielle van de Donk, Katie McCabe and Lisa Evans also got on the act for Arsenal, who have scored 17 goals, conceding only one, since the start of the new season.

Chris Kirkland’s dramatic maiden voyage

In midweek, Liverpool were rocked by the shock resignation of former Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers manager Neil Redfearn.

Chris Kirkland – who spent five seasons at Anfield during his playing days – stepped into the breach as the Reds’ caretaker manager and saw them come from 3-1 down to draw 3-3, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk bagging a late equaliser.

Liverpool then held their nerve from the spot to earn a bonus point, Sophie Bradley-Auckland dispatching the decisive penalty.

Glovers can’t get a handle on super Spurs

The only divisional upset of the day arrived in emphatic fashion at the Avenue Stadium in Dorchester as Tottenham Hotspur thumped Yeovil Town 4-0.

Coral-Jade Haines’ hat-trick had Championship side Spurs ruling the roost while Sarah Wiltshire rounded things off with a goal against her former side.

With two wins and a defeat to their name, Tottenham are currently Chelsea’s nearest challengers in Group One South.

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