Manchester City maintained their 100% record in the Women’s Super League by dispatching Sunderland on a day when the new England manager, Phil Neville, took in Reading’s goalless draw with Arsenal at Adams Park.

City ran out 3-0 winners in the north-east with Nikita Parris scoring either side of Izzy Christiansen’s strike to make it seven wins from as many league matches for Nick Cushing’s runaway leaders.

Elsewhere, Birmingham City breezed past the bottom club Yeovil Town 3-0, while Chelsea retained their unbeaten start to the WSL season thanks to Jonna Andersson’s late goal against Everton at Kingsmeadow, after Courtney Sweetman‑Kirk missed a first-half penalty for the visiting team.

Emma Hayes’s side racked up their sixth victory this term late on when Fran Kirby squared for Andersson to fire home beyond Lizzie Durack, the Everton goalkeeper, seven minutes from time. As a result, Reading remain the only team to have taken points off Chelsea in the league this season.

When Sweetman-Kirk was fouled early on, Chloe Kelly, who completed a permanent move to Everton from Arsenal on Thursday, forced a fingertip save from Hedvig Lindahl, the Chelsea goalkeeper. Sweetman-Kirk then had a goal disallowed for offside before stepping up to rattle a penalty against the post after being fouled by Anita Asante.

Chelsea assumed control after the interval, with Durack on hand to deny Crystal Dunn and Karen Carney. Chelsea later introduced Kirby, Maren Mjelde and Ji So Yun and the hosts’ pressure eventually told. When Kirby was afforded time and space in the box, she shifted the ball to the Chelsea full-back Andersson, who side-footed home.

Chelsea celebrate Jonna Andersson’s goal at Kingsmeadow. Photograph: Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Neville, who watched Liverpool cruise to a 2-0 victory against Bristol City on Saturday, was in attendance as Arsenal lost ground on the top three. Beth England, who is yet to be capped by her country at senior level, scored twice in front of the new Lionesses manager to take her tally to eight goals in nine appearances this season.