Chelsea Women continued their strongest ever start to a WSL campaign on Sunday, securing a 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
The win marked their sixth consecutive triumph, keeping them closely behind league leaders Manchester City, while Liverpool, struggle for consistency with only two wins to their name.
Goals from Mayra Ramirez, Guro Reiten, and substitute Aggie Beever-Jones secured the victory for Chelsea, ensuring that new manager Sonia Bompastor’s unblemished record remained intact.
The French coach has now become the first manager in WSL history to win their opening four away matches.
“Even if it is maybe a perfect start for us in terms of results, points and performances, we didn’t win anything yet,” said Bompastor.
“So we need to keep the good balance between the confidence – which is really important for the players – but also keeping the head on the shoulders, and not flying or not being aligned with the reality.
‘’That’s my job, to make sure I maintain that balance.”
The opening exchanges saw Chelsea press forward, with Hamano testing goalkeeper Rachael Laws with a low drive that was parried away from the bottom right corner.
Liverpool responded with energy, applying a high press and finding success on the counterattack, particularly through Olivia Smith’s pace down the right flank.
The deadlock was broken however in the 37th minute when Chelsea’s persistence paid off.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s powerful shot rattled the crossbar, and after a scramble, Ramirez volleyed the rebound home to put the visitors in front.
It was a bitter blow for Liverpool, who had defended valiantly until that moment.
Just before halftime, Reiten doubled Chelsea’s lead, slotting the ball into an open net from distance after a defensive lapse.
Chelsea made a change at halftime, with Lucy Bronze making way for Ashley Lawrence. The visitors continued to control the tempo, although Liverpool’s resilience kept the scoreline respectable.
Erin Cuthbert came close to adding a third with a long-range effort, but Laws was on hand to tip it over the bar.
The match concluded with Beever-Jones adding Chelsea’s third after coming off the bench, securing a comprehensive win that keeps Chelsea firmly in the title chase behind Manchester City.
Starting XIs
Liverpool: Rachael Laws (GK), Grace Fisk, Jasmine Matthews, Olivia Smith, Marie Hobinger, Jenna Clark, Gemma Evans, Gemma Bonner, Leanne Kiernan, Taylor Hinds (C), Ceri Holland
Chelsea: Hannah Hampton (GK), Mayra Ramirez, Kadeisha Buchanan, Millie Bright (C), Sandy Baltimore, Sjoeke Nusken, Johana Rytting Kaneryd, Lucy Bronze, Erin Cuthbert, Guro Reiten, Maiko Hermano
Featured image courtesy of Steven Taylor.