Lauren James scored three goals as Chelsea romped to a 5-1 win over Liverpool, putting them six points ahead at the Super League top table.
James’s first-half goal and two goals in the second half shattered the Reds’ attempts to steal points away from league leaders.
Liverpool scored an own-goal in the opening half, and Aggie Beever Jones – who has now netted four goals in four games in a row – was able to cancel out their short.
Sjoeke nusken added a fifth goal from close quarters with just 12 minutes left to give Chelsea a boost.
Chelsea’s third match in seven days had no effect as the game was played one way with the home team taking the lead from the start.
Sophie Ingle’s 184th WSL game was marked by a magnificent through-ball to James. James’s stellar footwork defeated Gemma Bonner, and James fired the opening goal into the lower-right corner.
Within a minute, Liverpool pulled one back. A scramble inside the box led to Carter putting the ball in her own goal after Chelsea’s defence let an unbeatable Shanice van De Sanden dart in.
James, with Chelsea firmly in the lead, sent Beever-Jones a cross that was pinpoint accurate. She scored her first goal of the season, marking it as a superstarter.
Chelsea’s left side showed their impressive cohesion and caused repeated difficulties for their opponents. Former Liverpool defender Niamh Charlis’ connection with James was a key factor in creating holes within the visiting defence.
Sam Kerr was too close to Rachael laws, the Reds’ goalkeeper for the Reds when she deflected the ball. Fortunately for Matt Beard and his side, the deflection just missed the near-post.
Chelsea’s dominance was evident as they added another three goals to the total of their visitors, who had a series of missed chances.
James, after being set up by Kerr fired a signature shot into the net before celebrating her triple eight minutes later – despite knocking Nusken over in the process.
Nusken, a midfielder from Germany, scored after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s well-executed cutback.
