Liverpool's Natasha Dowie (centre) celebrates after scoring the opener against Bristol Academy
Liverpool Ladies have claimed the Women’s Super League title in dramatic fashion after Chelsea and Birmingham slipped up on a thrilling final day.
The reigning champions began the day in third place in the table, three points behind Chelsea, but gave themselves a chance by beating Bristol Academy 3-0.
Chelsea needed victory at Manchester City to claim the title but lost 2-1, meaning Birmingham could top the table with a win at home to Notts County.
But Birmingham were held to a 2-2 draw and Liverpool pipped Chelsea to the title on goal difference, with Birmingham a point behind in third.
With victory required, Liverpool attacked from the off against Bristol Academy but it was still 0-0 at half-time after a string of near misses.
But Liverpool got the breakthrough on 53 minutes when Davison made ground down the left and then found Natasha Dowie, who calmly stroked the ball into the net from just inside the box.
And Lucy Bronze added a fine second moments later, powering down the right before beating Earps with a well-struck shot.
Victory was assured in the 69th minute, Fara Williams tucking away a penalty after Dowie had been brought down by Jemma Rose.
And Liverpool now knew they were in a with a massive shout of claiming the title because it was all going wrong for Chelsea at Manchester City.
Chelsea goalkeeper Marie Hourihan had to go off early on due to injury and her replacement Clare Farrow was beaten by a low shot from Jill Scott after 24 minutes.
And Toni Duggan then scored a superb second, chesting down a Scott cross and volleying the ball into the top corner.
Chelsea’s Gilly Flaherty set up a grandstand finish when she headed a Danielle Buet corner into the net in the 71st minute.
And City were then reduced to 10 women when Abbie McManus was red carded, apparently for an elbow off the ball.
An equaliser would have given Chelsea the title but Jackie Groenen and Hannah Blundell put late half-chances over the bar and City held on.
Hosting Notts County, Birmingham’s title bid quickly came off the rails as Aileen Whelan headed the visitors into a third-minute lead.
And it was 2-0 quarter of an hour later when Fiona O'Sullivan scored from six yards after a Whelan shot had been blocked.
Birmingham fought back and they were back in it when sub Hannah Keryakoplis made a goal for Kirsty Linnett.
But there was huge drama just before the break when Notts County were penalised for handball in the box, only for Carly Telford to brilliantly save Karen Carney’s penalty and then get up to keep out the rebound too.
However, the lively Keryakoplis made it 2-2 soon after half-time, beating Telford after the ball had fallen kindly for her.
As it transpired, a winning goal would have given Birmingham the title but Notts County kept them at bay, Telford producing a stunning save late on to deny Linnett.
