Manchester City were grateful for a stroke of luck to get them started on the way back to the top of Super League One with a 4-0 win against Liverpool.

Needing a win to regain their lead following Chelsea’s victory over Birmingham on Saturday, the Liverpool-born forward Nikita Parris opened the scoring for City in the first minute when she was struck in the face by the ball and saw it trickle over the line.

City, who had dropped only two points from eight previous matches, pulled away from Liverpool after the interval as Parris doubled her tally, with Izzy Christiansen scoring from the spot and Abbie McManus adding the fourth goal.

“The early goal was a big positive for us,” Parris said. “It came with a bit of luck – it would be a total lie if I said I meant it as I was too busy rubbing my face to realise it was a goal. But I’ll take any goal as it comes. We gave Chelsea a little time up there on top to see how it is but we’re back two points clear now.”

The result means Liverpool have dropped to fourth following Arsenal’s victory against the bottom side Yeovil by the same 4-0 scoreline.

Having won their two previous matches, Danielle Carter and Beth Mead both scored twice to secure a comfortable victory against the bottom side, although they remain eight points behind City. Yeovil have still to record a point or a goal in the league this season, after eight Super League One matches.

Everton, meanwhile, withstood a strong comeback from Reading to move out of the relegation zone. Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Chloe Kelly had given them an early lead before Rachel Furness pulled one back through a header, but the home side held on for a crucial victory.

On Saturday, Bristol City’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland saw the visitors moving into the top half of the table thanks to goals from Bridget Galloway and Rachel Pitman.