WSL team of the week: gameweek 3
By Ali Rampling
The WSL returned after a two-week absence over the weekend, and served up first wins, penalty misses and red cards.
Aston Villa and West Ham played out a drama-filled encounter, Manchester City got off the mark and Manchester United rose to the top of the table.
But which players particularly impressed? Here's 90min's WSL team of the week.
Goalkeeper & defenders
GK: Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham) - It was a week of strong goalkeeper performances in the WSL, with Manuela Zinsberger and Jackie Burns both turning in impressive displays during Arsenal's victory over Reading. But West Ham's Arnold was particularly instrumental in her side's win over high flying Aston Villa, saving Alisha Lehmann's spot kick and tipping a Kirsty Hanson effort around the post to preserve her side's lead.
RB: Ona Batlle (Manchester United) - Both Manchester United and Batlle impressed once more on Sunday as the Red Devils ran riot against Brighton. The right-back picked out Ella Toone with a typically superb delivery for United's first, and was a constant attacking threat.
CB: Molly Bartrip (Tottenham) - It was a much improved attacking display from Tottenham on Sunday as they beat Liverpool 1-0 - but the central defensive partnership of Shelina Zadorsky and Bartrip were key to Spurs' first WSL clean sheet of the season. Bartrip helped nullify the Liverpool front three in the first half, before turning in a resilient display in the second as the Reds really came at Spurs in the final 15 minutes.
CB: Grace Fisk (West Ham) - West Ham's victory over Aston Villa was all about their defensively resilient second half display, as Villa threw everything at the visitors in search of an equaliser. Fisk headed and blocked anything that came her way, and made a crucial clearance following Arnold's penalty save to secure a big three points for the Hammers.
LB: Guro Reiten (Chelsea) - Wing back Reiten carried one of Chelsea's greatest attacking threats during her side's 3-1 victory over Everton, with the left flank a real source of creativity for the Blues. The Norwegian international provided the pinpoint cross from which Harder headed Chelsea into the lead, and won the penalty for her side's second.
Midfielders
CM: Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City) - Playing at the base of the midfield - a role formerly occupied by Keira Walsh - Hasegawa marked her Manchester City debut in style as her new side secured their first win of the season. Cool and classy on the ball, the Japan international is set to seamlessly fit into City's style of play, and wrapped up her fine display with a terrific strike from the edge of the area.
AM: Pernille Harder (Chelsea) - Harder returned to the Chelsea starting XI with a bang after missing her side's first three games through injury. She peeled off the Everton backline to open the scoring with a back post header, and coolly netted her side's second from the penalty spot - the only successful spot kick in the WSL this weekend, with three other players missing from 12 yards out over the course of the six fixtures.
AM: Ella Toone (Manchester United) - Toone opened her account for the campaign with a brace inside half an hour against Brighton - a smart header and a coolly taken finish. The England international then set up Leah Galton for United's third with a perfectly weighted through ball, and was a constant source of creativity.
Forwards
FW: Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) - Hemp was instrumental in City's first win of the season, setting up Shaw for her side's opening goal with a fabulous turn and cross, before powering a superb header into the roof of the net for her side's second. The front three of Hemp, Bunny Shaw and Chloe Kelly were electric.
FW: Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) - Shaw turned in another impressive performance for City on Sunday and was twice on the scoresheet. The first was a trademark Shaw header, rising highest to power home, and she was then fastest to react to Alex Greenwood's saved penalty to stroke into the back of the net.
FW: Leah Galton (Manchester United) - Galton was in the very thick of the action for Manchester United during their comprehensive WSL victory over Brighton, unselfishly laying the ball into the path of Toone for United's second, picking out Adriana Leon with a stunning first time pass for United's fourth, and getting on the score sheet herself with a tidy finish.