Lauren James stuns Liverpool with hat-trick at Stamford Bridge as Emma Hayes’ side continue their winning start to WSL season with 5-1 victory to mark sixth win of the campaign to silence visitors
- Lauren James’ hat-trick and assist kept Chelsea top of the table
- Liverpool only managed to force an early error from Jess Carter into their own goal
- Chelsea continue to enter the league undefeated in boss Emma Hayes’ final season
Chelsea have shown no signs of slowing down in the WSL so far, recording their sixth win of the season with a resounding 5-1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
In the weeks following Emma Hayes’ announcement that she will leave the Blues at the end of the season, her side continued to silence their opponents, moving them six points clear at the top of the WSL table.
After starting the 2023/24 WSL season unbeaten, Chelsea recently put six goals past Carla Ward’s struggling Aston Villa side, followed by 3-0 at Walton Hall Park against Everton.
In their seventh match of the season, Lauren James scored a hat-trick, as well as goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Sjoeke Nusken, taking all three points from the Reds.
It was Lauren James who opened the scoring after just over ten minutes of play, although the celebrations were short-lived as Jess Carter scored an own goal to level the score.
Sam Kerr didn’t make it onto the scoresheet, but celebrated enthusiastically with her teammates
James put the hosts ahead with a stunning strike into the back of the net
Lauren James looked unstoppable as she scored a hat-trick and an assist at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea are now six points clear at the top of the WSL table, with Arsenal in second place
With the score at 1-1, it didn’t take long for the hosts to fire themselves into the lead again, with a pin-point pass to the back post meeting Aggie Beever-Jones’ header. The 20-year-old scored her fourth goal in the past four league matches, following two loan spells at Bristol City and Everton in the past two seasons.
After the break, the hosts were again excited with two more goals from James, leading her to a Player of the Match award.
To round off a stunning performance, Sjoeke Nusken secured a fifth and final goal to round off an impressive display from Chelsea.
Hayes made a number of changes for the home side, with Zecira Musovic in goal, and Sophie Ingle, Maren Mjelde and Eve Perisset joining goalscorers James and Beever-Jones among the new names on the west London teamsheet.
Captain Sophie Ingle also marked her 184th appearance in the WSL – a record-breaking achievement for the competition.
It was Emma Hayes’ first home game since announcing her departure from Chelsea
Liverpool looked understandably disappointed with the 5-1 defeat away from home
Despite a frustrating Wednesday night in which they drew 2-2 with Real Madrid in the Champions League, Emma Hayes’ side made up for lost time with five goals at the Bridge against disappointing Liverpool.
Matt Beard’s side made a strong start to the competition, with three wins – including a 1-0 opening day victory over Arsenal in the Emirates – accompanied by a record-breaking crowd.
Chelsea will take on Paris FC this week as they continue their Champions League campaign, before visiting Leicester in the domestic competition.
