Khadija Shaw scored a perfect hat-trick as Manchester City swept West Ham aside 5-0 at the Joie Stadium on Saturday to return to the top of the Women's Super League. The reigning champions are now two points clear of Chelsea, who dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Everton.

Shaw opened the scoring before half-time and completed her treble with a header and a late finish, scoring with her left foot, her head and her right foot. Aoba Fujino and Iman Beney scored City's other goals, both netting their first league goals of the season. The win was City's ninth game of the campaign, and Shaw's tally now stands at 12 goals in nine games, four clear of her nearest Golden Boot rival.

City punish Chelsea's slip

City went into the weekend level on points with Chelsea but behind on goal difference. Chelsea took an early lead at home to Everton through Sandy Baltimore, only for Lucy Bronze's attempted clearance to loop into her own net and hand the visitors a point. Chelsea failed to land a single shot on target of their own, and City took full advantage.

Shaw's treble was her ninth hat-trick in the English top flight, and it took her to 95 Women's Super League goals in total, two short of the all-time record. "We intended to score a lot of goals," she told Sky Sports afterwards. With a third of the season gone, the title race is tightening, and City's ruthless finishing sent a clear message to their rivals.