Chelsea recovered from missing a penalty in the opening minute to overcome Everton and stay top of the Women's Super League.

Everton goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela saved superbly from Melanie Leupolz's spot-kick in the game's first action.

Fran Kirby opened the scoring, coolly slotting past Korpela from Sam Kerr's first-time ball.

Pernille Harder rolled in their second after the break, and Leupolz added a late third to complete the win.

A 10th win in 11 league matches kept Chelsea two points clear of title rivals Manchester City, who beat Bristol City, with five games of the season to play.

The visitors were given a great chance to open the scoring when Everton's Lucy Graham handled the ball in the penalty area, but stand-in goalkeeper Korpela, replacing the injured Sandy MacIver, guessed right to keep out Leupolz's penalty.

Chelsea didn't let the setback affect them and went ahead when Kerr spotted Kirby's run and slid a ball in behind the defence, which the England forward finished off with style for her 12th goal of the season.

Having been dominated by the visitors in the opening period, Everton improved in the second half, but the wind was knocked out of their sails when a swift break ended in Kirby unselfishly laying the ball off to Harder who slotted home from close range.

There was still time for Leupolz to avenge her penalty miss, with the German finishing off a rebound which fell kindly after Korpela had saved from Harder.