Chelsea moved six points clear at the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League ahead of Sunday’s fixtures with a 5-1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Lauren James was sent away down the left to cut in, firing across Rachel Laws to give Chelsea an 11th-minute lead. But within seconds, Liverpool’s Shanice van de Sanden raced up the right wing and pulled the ball back leading to Jess Carter bundling the ball into her own net.
Emma Hayes’ side restored the lead midway through the first half, James delivering a deep cross for Aggie Beever-Jones to net with a downward header.
James again scored around a dozen minutes into the second half, with a powerful strike inside the far post after receiving the ball from Sam Kerr.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd came off the bench and immediately set up James to complete her hat-trick, before also providing Sjoeke Nusken with a tap in.
The match saw Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle top the list of all-time WSL appearances on 184, moving clear of previous leader Kerys Harrop.
