Crystal Palace's celebrated 1-0 win over Everton on their return to the Women's Super League is under threat after it emerged the club made an illegal fourth substitution, breaching the regulated limit of three windows. WSL Football has launched an investigation and the result could yet be overturned, casting doubt over a match that had been decided by Lexi Lloyd-Smith's debut winner. Elsewhere in the round, Chelsea again struggled to convert dominance into victory, drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa despite echoing the pattern of missed chances that cost them a title-defining defeat to Everton last season.

Arsenal's summer recruitment was vindicated in a 1-0 win over Brighton, with new signings Lisa Baum and Georgia Stanway impressing on their WSL debuts; Stanway led all players with 131 touches and 23 passes into the final third. Manchester City's Lauren Hemp marked her 200th club appearance with a strong display in a 3-1 win over Birmingham City, becoming only the fourth player to reach the milestone, while London City Lionesses manager Eder Maestre continues to face the challenge of integrating a squad reshaped by eight arrivals and seven departures over the summer.