Chelsea and Notts County both suffered defeats as they prepared to meet in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
Chelsea’s attempt to go top of the Women’s Super League was thwarted by Manchester City, who beat them 2-1 at Staines Town.
A deflected free-kick from the Lionesses captain, Steph Houghton, secured the points for the visitors and the Chelsea coach Emma Hayes said: “It was a cruel way to end the game. A draw would have probably been a fair result.
“While everybody is licking their chops about us losing today, I promise you this league has got a long way to go.”
Chelsea lie third behind Arsenal, who are on the same points as the leaders Sunderland. City are fifth behind Notts County.
The England striker Toni Duggan had given City a 12th-minute lead before Eniola Aluko levelled the scores just after the interval.
Arsenal had to come from behind to beat Notts County at Borehamwood with second-half goals from Dan Carter and Natalia Pablos Sanchon.
The result was a setback for the visitors, who had taken the lead through Jess Clarke, and they were left further aggrieved by the Football Association’s decision not to let them sign an emergency goalkeeper for the Wembley showdown.
Their only eligible keeper is Carly Telford, who was making her first appearance for 11 weeks after returning from a dislocated shoulder. “Sometimes common sense has to kick in,” their chief executive, Luke Negus-Hill, told the BBC. “It could – touch wood it won’t – end up with an outfield player being in goal.”
Liverpool suffered a second successive defeat in the league when they lost 1-0 at Birmingham for whom Karen Carney scored the only goal from the penalty spot after a Martha Harris handball.
They hold down sixth spot in the table, three points ahead of Birmingham.
