FA Women's Super League: What we've learned from Round 3

As the FA Women’s Super League reached its third round of fixtures, the drama continued as only two teams remain unbeaten.

Arsenal and Birmingham sit at the top of the table on maximum points after victories, while Brighton and Yevil propping up the bottom of the league.

READ MORE: Van de Donk treble helps Arsenal fight back

READ MORE: Nikita Parris ensures first league win of season for Man City

Danielle Van de Donk is a top-class striker

West Ham looked to have the upper hand as Kate Longhurst twice fired them ahead in the first half, but Van de Donk fired in three times from close range to put Arsenal in front and skipper Kim Little sealed victory with a stunning fourth.

They may not have been spectacular strikes, but Van de Donk proved she has clinical instincts and was in the right place at the right time.

Although West Ham opened the scoring, their lead lasted just three minutes as Lisa Quinn’s goalward header from Emma Mitchell’s corner was flicked into the net by Van de Donk.

The Dutchwoman then gave Arsenal the lead with a carbon copy finish before half time, and wrapped up her hat-trick on 73 minutes with yet another tap-in on the goal-line after Little’s corner fell straight to her.

Birmingham giving teams the blues

With their successive third 1-0 win, Birmingham City are second in the league and proved they know how to do it the hard way.

Meaghan Sargeant extended their perfect league start to the season with an early strike to keep pressure on leaders Arsenal.

The Blues have found a winning formula and have the professionalism to close games out when they get ahead.

With the performances in the bag, the goals will surely roll in if the mentality stays the same.

Steph Houghton saves the City

England captain Steph Houghton’s late wonder-strike rescued a point for Manchester City after coming from two goals down against Bristol City.

The defender scored a peach from outside of the box in the last minute, after Nikita Parris had pulled one back from the penalty spot earlier in the game.

When a set-piece wasn’t dealt with by Bristol City , the ball found its way to Houghton on the edge of the area, and she curled the ball perfectly into the far corner with a first-time strike

The ball floated past Vixens keeper Sophie Baggaley as she could only watch, forcing a share of the spoils at the Academy Stadium.

The defending champions are yet to find the net

Goal-shy Chelsea remain winless three games into the new season after Everton held them to a draw at the Merseyrail Community Stadium in Southport.

But more worryingly for the reigning champions is that they haven’t yet scored a single goal either.

They thought they’d broken the deadlock, but frustratingly for them Inessa Kaagman’s second-half shot was ruled not to have crossed the line after it was spilled by Chelsea keeper Carly Telford.

Having scored 44 goals last season, when they earned the same number of points and lifted the trophy, they have the talent in their ranks, but the champions are still waiting on that first strike.

Liverpool are up and running

The Reds picked up their first win of the season after substitute Rinsola Babjide fired in a late winner against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Chances were unsurprisingly scarce, with both sides going into the game without a win and a goal, but thankfully Babjide converted in the 85th minute to hand Brighton their third loss of the season.

Under new management, Liverpool will hope this victory kick-starts their season as they seek to compete with the very best.

Match winner Babjide emphasised the critical nature of the triumph by noting that “the main focus for us was the three points because we knew we needed to get some points on the board.”