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Chelsea replaced Manchester United at the top of the Women’s Super League table as Sam Kerr’s first half result secured a 1-0 win over the Red Devils at Kingsmeadow.

The excellently crafted goal came in the 23rd minute when Kerr controlled Lauren James’ long pass with her chest and sent the ball past Mary Earps into the net.

United were left frustrated that no penalty was awarded after Nikita Parris came under the attention of Kadeisha Buchanan some 10 minutes later, with teammate Ona Batlle also rejecting penalty appeals.

The outcome of the crucial clash sees Emma Hayes’s Blues leave two points clear of Marc Skinner’s United at the top, one game down.

Third-placed Manchester City are level on points with United after they beat Brighton 2-1 thanks to a late goal from the league’s top scorer Khadija Shaw.

Shaw also opened the scoring with a 21st-minute effort that was canceled out by Elisabeth Terland shortly after the half hour mark.

The Jamaica forward then added all three points for Gareth Taylor’s side with a goal with a minute remaining in regulation, her 15th league goal of the season. City, like Chelsea, have gone 13 games without losing in the league.

Bottom-place Leicester are a point behind 11th-placed Brighton, having played one more game after drawing 0-0 at home with Everton.

One point and one place ahead of Brighton is Tottenham, which suffered its ninth successive WSL defeat by falling 2-1 at Liverpool.

Spurs led from the start through Rosella Ayane, but Emma Koivisto equalized soon after and then set up Missy Bo Kearns for what turned out to be the 35th-minute winner.

Liverpool are now seven points from the relegation spot.

England internationals Rachel Daly and Jordan Nobbs were on the scoresheet for fifth-placed Aston Villa, who beat West Ham 2-1.

Daly scored his 11th goal of the season in the first half and Nobbs extended the lead just over an hour before the home team responded through Viviane Asseyi.