Chelsea have closed the gap to Manchester United at the top of the Women's Super League to one point after a 3-1 win over Brighton.

For once, Matildas superstar Sam Kerr failed to find the net for the London side, with Guro Reiten and Jess Carter scoring twice in nine first-half minutes to give them a 2-0 lead at the break.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd sealed the three points 19 minutes from time, with Danielle Carter's late strike for the visitors nothing but a consolation.

Emma Hayes' defending champions have a game in hand over United and moved two points clear of third-placed Manchester City as the WSL title-race hots up.

The hosts took the lead from the penalty spot when Kerr was brought down inside the area by Zoe Morse and Reiten stepped up and dispatched past Matildas No.1 Lydia Williams from 12 yards.

The Blues quickly had a second when Jess Carter swept home at the near post.

Chelsea wrapped up the win on 71 minutes when Kerr unselfishly squared the ball to Kaneryd, who tapped home into an empty net.

Brighton continued to plug away and got a deserved goal as Danielle Carter rounded off a counter-attack two minutes from time.

Kerr's international goalscoring partner-in-crime Caitlin Foord did find the net, as Arsenal reignited their title hopes by ending a run of three league games without a win with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool.

Arsenal, who clinched the League Cup by beating Chelsea at the weekend, went ahead through Stina Blackstenius' thumping effort from outside the box after 28 minutes.

Foord doubled Arsenal's lead six minutes later when she was on hand to tap home a rebound after Blackstenius' powerful shot was parried back into play by Rachael Laws.

Jonas Eidevall's side are fourth in the table, six points adrift of the leaders but with a game in hand over both Manchester clubs.