Sam Kerr’s late goal helped Chelsea to record a 2-1 victory over a brave Liverpool outfit at Kingsmeadow this evening.
Emma Koivisto’s second-minute goal gave The Reds a shock lead but Niamh Charles levelled matters against her former club at the end of the first half. Liverpool looked set to claim a point until Chelsea forward Kerr popped up with the winner four minutes from time.
Liverpool’s perfect start came when full-back Koivisto met a Natasha Dowie cross and she expertly directed the ball into the net.
Chelsea responded and Ève Périsset, Guro Reiten and Kerr all tested Faye Kirby in the Liverpool goal but the young keeper pulled off some important saves.
The Blues were struggling to make the breakthrough but they levelled matters four minutes before the break when former Liverpool player Charles got her head on the end of a corner kick.
Chelsea pushed hard for a winning goal in the second period but again, they came up against a determined and well-drilled Liverpool side. Emma Hayes’ side had the ball in the net through Reiten but she gained an advantage from being in an offside position.
That moment proved to be a sign of what was to come with Kerr going on to net the game’s decisive goal four minutes from time. Jessie Fleming’s 20-yard rocket hit the post before Kerr turned in the rebound from close range.
This evening’s result leaves Chelsea in third position in the Barclays Women’s Super League table, four points adrift of the summit. The Blues have two games-in-hand on the sides above them.