Beth Mead scored twice as Arsenal thumped struggling West Ham 3-0 at Meadow Park in the Women's Super League.

It did not take long for Arsenal to open the scoring as Frida Maanum put the hosts 1-0 up just two minutes in, her long-range effort deceiving Irish international goalkeeper Megan Walsh.

Mead got her first since returning from a serious knee injury in the 18th minute before she tapped in from six yards to make it 3-0 just before the break.

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe was replaced in the 64th minute while Izzy Atkinson and Jessica Ziu were second-half subs for the Hammers.

Jonas Eidevall’s team sit in second position and continue to pile pressure on league leaders Chelsea.

Lauren James scored twice as the Blues stretched their winning run to six games in the league with a 5-2 win over Leicester.

Chelsea scored twice in the first five minutes through James and a Courtney Nevin own goal and added a third just before the break through Sam Kerr, just after Jutta Rantala had brought Leicester back into the game.

Sam Tierney netted in the 44th minute to make it 3-2 but Chelsea regained their two-goal cushion when James dinked over the keeper from close range and Aggie Beever-Jones sealed the points late on for Emma Hayes’ side.

Second half goals from Hinata Miyazawa and Nikita Parris ensured that Manchester United returned to winning ways after their derby loss to Manchester City with a 2-0 win at rock bottom Bristol City.

United were denied on several occasions in the first period by inspired City goalkeeper Olivia Clark, who kept out Parris, Leah Galton and Millie Turner.

Marc Skinner’s side broke the deadlock five minutes after the break through Japanese international Miyazawa before Parris added a second as United clinched an away win.

Megan Connolly played the full 90 minutes for the hosts while Chloe Mustaki replaced Brooke Aspin in the 28th minute.

Liverpool picked up their first win in three league matches with a convincing 4-0 win over Brighton.

The Reds carried a 2-0 lead into the break thanks to strikes from Gemma Bonner and Shanice van de Sanden and Ceri Holland nodded in from close range in the second half before Sophie Roman Haug added the gloss from a cross by Ireland international Leanne Kiernan.

Kiernan came on in the 72nd minute while Niamh Fahey was a late replacement for Jenna Clark.