Champions Chelsea issued a statement of intent to their title rivals as they ruthlessly ended Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the season.

Pernille Harder doubled the Blues’ lead with a superb solo effort before Sam Kerr tapped home a third.

Alessia Russo’s deflected strike gave United hope, but Kerr, Drew Spence and Jessie Fleming added Chelsea goals.

Having been stunned by Arsenal in the season opener, Chelsea expertly negotiated this difficult away assignment with a devastating blend of aggressive pressing, precise passing and clinical finishing.

For United, it was a reminder of the level they must reach in order to challenge Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City after starting their campaign with comprehensive wins over Reading and Leicester under new boss Marc Skinner.

Chelsea were nearly gifted a goal after 15 seconds when United keeper Mary Earps overhit her pass to Maria Thorisdottir, allowing Sam Kerr to shoot from the edge of the box.

And while Earps managed to keep the Australian’s low strike out with a strong left hand, there was nothing she could do to stop Kirby from capitalising on a sloppy United error.

Attempting to play out from the back, Hannah Blundell ran into trouble and passed straight to Kerr, who squared the ball for Kirby to tap home.

United managed to settle after Chelsea’s fast start, but soon found themselves with a mountain to climb when Harder demonstrated her pace and power to double the away side’s advantage.

Pouncing on a heavy touch from Jackie Groenen, the Dane stormed up the pitch, breezed past Thorisdottir and calmly lifted the ball over the onrushing Earps.

Kerr nearly struck a brilliant third five minutes before the break after being teed up by Kirby, but her first-time effort whistled just the wrong side of Earps’ right-hand post.

From the goal-kick, however, United captain Hannah Zelem conceded possession and, in a roles reversal from the first goal, Kirby found Kerr, who slotted Chelsea into a three-goal lead.

United boss Skinner introduced Russo at the break and the England forward’s impact was instant, latching on to Ella Toone’s pass and beating Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger thanks to a heavy deflection off Millie Bright. Russo also rattled the crossbar with a rasping drive in an eye-catching display.

The home side’s hopes of a revival were crushed three minutes after Russo’s goal, however, when Kerr struck for the second time, although the striker appeared to have strayed offside before she converted Kirby’s cross at the second attempt.

Spence and Fleming both struck late as Emma Hayes’ substitutes put further gloss on the scoreline and cap a dominant display by the champions.

Sourced From BBC