Chelsea’s reign as English women’s football’s top team is over after Manchester City dismantled the champions to open up a surely unassailable lead at the top of the Women’s Super League.

In an emphatic victory that will be symbolic of the ongoing changing of the guard, Kerolin scored a hat-trick as the runaway leaders won 5-1 at a jubilant Etihad Stadium and their fans were chanting “easy, easy, easy” before the end.