Chelsea bounces back with convincing WSL win over Liverpool

After midweek European frustrations, Chelsea demonstrated resilience with a comfortable victory over Liverpool in the WSL. Lauren James’s exceptional hat-trick, along with goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Sjoeke Nüsken, secured their sixth win of the season. Jess Carter’s own goal was the only setback, leaving the Stamford Bridge crowd delighted.

Returning to home turf after three away games and a midweek draw against Real Madrid, Chelsea, led by Emma Hayes, delivered an impressive performance. Hayes acknowledged her squad’s tremendous response, emphasizing the importance of player welfare given the hectic schedule.

Hayes commented, “Considering none of us really slept on Wednesday and we’ve been in hotels since last weekend, it was a tremendous response from the whole squad. They know that my aim has been to build a team this year where we could move seamlessly between games.”

Highlighting the challenges of the schedule, Hayes stressed the need for better consideration of player welfare. She expressed frustration with the demanding fixture list and urged the league to prioritize players’ well-being.

Making several changes due to the busy schedule, Chelsea displayed fresh energy with new additions to the lineup. Sophie Ingle marked a special occasion, breaking the WSL appearance record with her 184th appearance.

Despite Liverpool proving stern opposition this season, Chelsea dominated from the start. Lauren James showcased her skills, contributing significantly to the attack. Liverpool displayed resilience with a quick response to James’s opener, but Chelsea remained patient in their buildup.

Aggie Beever-Jones, a product of Chelsea’s academy, had a special moment by heading home a cross from Lauren James. Chelsea continued their dominance in the second half, with Lauren James adding two more goals, securing a well-deserved victory.

The emphatic win extended Chelsea’s unbeaten WSL home run to 30 matches, temporarily placing them six points clear of rivals ahead of Sunday’s matches.