England forward Lauren James scored a hat-trick and created one goal as Chelsea beat Liverpool at Stamford Bridge to move six points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League.
James collected the ball 30 yards out, ran at Liverpool defender Gemma Bonner, got into the penalty area, shifted the ball on to her left foot and drilled a low finish past Rachael Laws.
The assist for James’ goal went to Wales captain Sophie Ingle on the day she set a new WSL record for most appearances in the competition – her 184th game to move one clear of former Birmingham City and Tottenham defender Kerys Harrop.
However, Liverpool, who would have gone second with a win, equalised against the run of play less than two minutes later.
Shanice van de Sanden was able to spin past England defender Jess Carter and run at the home defence, with Carter then inadvertently bundling the ball over her own goalline from Van de Sanden’s low cross.
James had been left out of the starting line-up for Chelsea’s 2-2 Champions League draw against Real Madrid on Wednesday, but was superb on her recall and her excellent cross from the left was headed in by Aggie Beever-Jones to restore Chelsea’s lead.
Chelsea added a third early in the second half, with James collecting Sam Kerr’s pass and drilling an excellent low strike into the corner from a tight angle. James then completed her first WSL hat-trick for Chelsea, getting to a pull-back from substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd before team-mate Sjoeke Nusken.
James started the move too for Chelsea’s fifth as she played in Rytting Kaneryd and her cross was finished at close range by Nusken.
Hayes’ team are chasing their fifth successive WSL title and have won six and drawn one of their opening seven league matches in 2023-24.
They have played a game more than second-placed Arsenal and the Gunners will cut the lead back to three points if they win away against Brighton on Sunday.
‘I felt like I was abandoning my family’
The win extends Chelsea’s incredible home record that has now seen them win 19 successive WSL home matches (at either Kingsmeadow or Stamford Bridge) since a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in February 2022.
Hayes has been with Chelsea since 2012 and guided the club to six WSL titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League final, and she is on course to add more silverware before taking up the United States job next summer.
Writing in the matchday programme, she said: “It’s not a decision I took lightly and it’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life. When you spend 11 years with a club as special as this, it becomes you. Chelsea is my club and it always will be.
“We’ve grown so much together and it really has been the experience of a lifetime to be a part of this, making memories and forming friendships that will last forever.
“It felt like I was abandoning my family when I told the girls and I’ve felt a lot of sadness in the days since. I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. I hope you understand why I’ve taken this decision.”
Captain Millie Bright, who was not in the matchday squad for the Liverpool game, said all the players were “gutted” and added: “I’ve got such a great relationship with Em, she’s been a mentor to me for so many years and almost like a life coach.
“We’re losing a special manager and more than that, a special person. Em has been a serial winner for a decade. Now we just have to stay focused on the season, that’s what Emma wants, that’s what she’s doing so we remain focused on the task ahead – winning trophies.”
Despite the news surrounding their manager, Chelsea remain as focused as ever and judging by this performance, and with James in such imperious form, they are going to take some stopping this season as Hayes aims to bow out with more silverware.
Player of the match
JamesLauren James
Chelsea Women
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Squad number10Player nameJames
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Squad number21Player nameCharles
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Squad number33Player nameBeever-Jones
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Squad number1Player nameMusovic
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Squad number22Player nameCuthbert
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Squad number20Player nameKerr
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Squad number5Player nameIngle
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Squad number19Player nameRytting Kaneryd
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Squad number6Player nameNüsken
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Squad number7Player nameCarter
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Squad number18Player nameMjelde
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Squad number15Player namePérisset
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Squad number14Player nameKirby
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Squad number17Player nameFleming
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Squad number2Player nameFishel
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Squad number12Player nameLawrence
Liverpool Women
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Squad number23Player nameBonner
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Squad number19Player namevan de Sanden
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Squad number4Player nameFisk
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Squad number14Player nameHöbinger
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Squad number17Player nameClark
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Squad number9Player nameKiernan
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Squad number11Player nameLawley
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Squad number2Player nameKoivisto
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Squad number18Player nameHolland
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Squad number12Player nameHinds
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Squad number10Player nameHaug
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Squad number8Player nameNagano
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Squad number7Player nameKearns
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Squad number32Player nameParry
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Squad number1Player nameLaws
Line-ups
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Musovic
- 15Périsset
- 18Mjelde
- 7Carter
- 21CharlesSubstituted forLawrenceat 75′minutes
- 5Ingle
- 33Beever-JonesSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 64′minutes
- 6NüskenSubstituted forKirbyat 81′minutes
- 22CuthbertSubstituted forFlemingat 81′minutes
- 10JamesBooked at 62mins
- 20KerrSubstituted forFishelat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Fishel
- 3Nouwen
- 12Lawrence
- 14Kirby
- 17Fleming
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 24Hampton
- 26Buchanan
- 30Berger
Liverpool Women
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Laws
- 2KoivistoSubstituted forParryat 74′minutes
- 17Clark
- 23BonnerBooked at 41mins
- 4Fisk
- 12Hinds
- 14HöbingerSubstituted forKearnsat 45′minutes
- 8Nagano
- 18HollandBooked at 90mins
- 19van de SandenSubstituted forKiernanat 74′minutes
- 10HaugSubstituted forLawleyat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Kearns
- 9Kiernan
- 11Lawley
- 13Enderby
- 15Lundgaard
- 16Micah
- 26Flint
- 32Parry
- 35Taylor
- Referee:
- Kirsty Dowle
- Attendance:
- 12,802
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea Women 5, Liverpool Women 1.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 5, Liverpool Women 1.
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Offside, Liverpool Women. Missy Kearns tries a through ball, but Melissa Lawley is caught offside.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Rachael Laws.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Jenna Clark.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Grace Fisk.
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Attempt blocked. Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Jenna Clark.
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Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Taylor Hinds (Liverpool Women).
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Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women).
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Foul by Maren Mjelde (Chelsea Women).
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Melissa Lawley (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lauren James (Chelsea Women).
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Gemma Bonner (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Liverpool Women. Melissa Lawley replaces Sophie Haug.
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Attempt saved. Lucy Parry (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Jess Carter (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.