Women’s Super League - Gameweek 20
Liverpool secured all three points on Wednesday evening as Leanne Kiernan, Sophie Roman Haug and a Gemma Bonner double all scored for the scouse side.
Chelsea are now six points behind after their loss and minus eight in goal difference compared to the Manchester club.
They are still one game behind the leaders as they have their rescheduled match against Spurs next week.
Team News:
Liverpool:
Matt Beard made just three changes since their 1-0 win vs Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Emma Koivisto, Ceri Holland and Gemma Bonner come into the starting 11 meanwhile Leanne Kiernan and Missy Bo Kearns drop to the bench, and Lucy Parry comes out of the squad due to Injury.
Gemma Bonner made her 150 appearance for the Merseyside club tonight, meanwhile Taylor Hinds made her 100th appearance for the reds as well.
Starting 11: Micah, Koivisto (Daniels 45+4’), Fisk, Bonner, Clark, Hinds © (Matthews 71’), Nagano, Holland (Kearns 82’), Hobinger, Enderby (Kiernan 71’), Roman H.
Unused Subs: Spencer, Lawley, Chadwick, Leath.
Chelsea:
Emma Hayes named three changes since their 3-0 against Aston Villa two weeks ago. Millie Bright starts for the first time since her injury back in November. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Erin Cuthbert also come into the side as Kadeisha Buchanan, Sophie Ingle and Maika Hamano all drop to the bench. Lauren James is not involved in the squad.
Starting 11: Hampton, Lawrence (Reiten 67’), Bright © (Bjorn 67’), Carter, Charles, Cuthbert, Nusken (Ingle 56’), Kaneryd (Perisset 67’), Kirby (Hamano 56’), Beever-Jones, Macario.
Unused Subs: Musovic, Cox, Mjelde, Buchanan.
First Half:
Both sides had a positive start to the game but it was Liverpool with the opening chance as seven minutes in, Gemma Bonner had a shot but it fell wide. It was Chelsea with the opener just nine minutes in as youngster Aggie Beever-Jones scored her 8th WSL goal of the season.
It was from a set piece after Cat Macario had a shot herself. The resulting corner found the head of the England U23 International and her header fell into the bottom right corner and put Chelsea just three points behind the leaders, Manchester City. She became the 18th different goal scorer in the Chelsea squad this season after a run of injuries hindered the squad.
Chances from Sjoeke Nusken, Fran Kirby, Cat Macario and Niamh Charles all looked to find a comforting second goal for the blues but nothing responded from this. Additionally, Liverpool also looked to find the equaliser but chances from Emma Koivisto, Ceri Holland, Marie Hobinger and Sophie Roman Haug all went wide or Hannah Hampton saved them.
Just before half-time, Hannah Hampton gave Liverpool a chance as she passed it straight to Emma Koivisto but her shot found the hands of Hannah Hampton. Niamh Charles looked to find a two-goal cushion for the blues against her former side but her cross from the left side does not find a blue shirt and is fired wide. During the build-up, Koivisto went down holding her knee after a clash with Aggie Beever-Jones, she gets back up but is later substituted to stop it going any worse.
Just before the whistle, after an initial five minutes added, Taylor Hinds had her shot deflected around 12 yards out but the resulting corner did not provide anything.
Half-time score: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea
Second Half:
Just after the restart, Liverpool started on the foot that they finished the first half with as Ceri Holland crossed a ball in from the left side but her touch was sloppy as the rain fell in Liverpool. Mia Enderby looked to find an equaliser in the opening minute but her cross from the left side had no response.
Six minutes after the restart, Liverpool equalised as a corner from Marie Hobinger found the head of lead scorer Sophie Roman Haug and her header fell past Hannah Hampton and into the back of the net. Liverpool looked to find their second and 15 minutes after their first goal, Gemma Bonner scored from the corner as her header found the bottom of the net. Scotland International, Erin Cuthbert found the final touch as it slotted past Hannah Hampton and gave the lead to the scousers.
Chelsea had multiple shots from both Cat Macario and Maika Hamano as they looked to find the equaliser but nothing came from them as Emma Hayes made changes to make sure her team took all three points back to London. The blues continued to find the equaliser as shots from Sophie Ingle, Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano looked to have found one but nothing came from it.
2-1 one minute, and then 3-2 the next as Aggie Beever Jones and Leanne Kiernan scored for either side. Niamh Charles had the ball on the left side of the pitch and as Teagan Micah went towards her, she passed the ball to Aggie Beever-Jones and she slotted a right footed shot into the back of an empty net. Just one minute later, Leanne Kiernan retook the lead for Liverpool as she found the ball from Ceri Holland and slid it past Hannah Hampton and fired it into the bottom left corner of the net.
Just two minutes after Liverpool took the lead, Chelsea drew level after American International Cat Macario slotted in a goal for herself. Around 12 yards out, she looked to have found the back of the net but her shot fell to Matthews as she thought to have saved it on the line but it hit the back of Teagan Micah and fell into the net.
Liverpool found the winner in the second minute out of nine added as Hobinger crossed the ball from a corner and landed on the head of Gemma Bonner. Her header fell into the bottom left corner and the team went off to celebrate as they came from behind to win.
Full-time score: Liverpool 4-3 Chelsea
What’s next for the two sides:
As the season is coming to a close, both sides have two WSL matches remaining after this rescheduled match.
Liverpool host Manchester United on Sunday at 2pm, meanwhile Chelsea host Bristol City which is due to kick off at 6.45pm.
On the final day, Chelsea travel to Old Trafford as Manchester United holds the title chasing team. Meanwhile, Liverpool travel to Leicester to finish the season strong, with both games commencing at 3pm.
By Lauren White
@lozreportssports
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