90’+6’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Chelsea Women 2, Liverpool Women 1.90’+5’Post updateAttempt missed. Shanice van de Sanden (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Niamh Charles.90’+3’Post updateCorner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Melissa Lawley.90’+2’Post updateAttempt blocked. Beth England (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Maren Mjelde.90’+1’Post updateAttempt blocked. Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Beth England.90’+1’Post updateFoul by Niamh Charles (Chelsea Women).
Chelsea’s Women’s Super League title hopes remain in their own hands after Sam Kerr’s late winner gave them a 2-1 victory over Liverpool. Emma Koivisto had given the Reds a shock early lead, but Niamh Charles levelled for the Blues with a glancing header before Kerr pounced on a rebound in the 86th minute to secure the win. Victory means Chelsea are four points behind leaders Manchester United, but have played two matches fewer and are in a strong position to secure a fourth consecutive WSL title.
The Blues dominated after falling behind, with Liverpool keeper Faye Kirby, making her WSL debut, impressively keeping out Guro Reiten and Kerr. Chelsea found themselves level in the 41st minute when Charles headed home Eve Perisset’s corner, but struggled after the restart. Against a tiring Liverpool defence, Reiten had a goal disallowed for offside in the closing stages before Kerr completed the turnaround.
Liverpool had come into the fixture off the back of a 4-0 thrashing by strugglers Leicester and were winless in their previous 10 away league games, but they flew out of the blocks with Koivisto sweeping home Natasha Dowie’s cross and could have retaken the lead just before half-time with Perisset blocking a Dowie effort after Ann-Katrin Berger had kept out Shanice van de Sanden’s initial strike. It was a much-improved performance from Matt Beard’s side with keeper Kirby nominated as player of the match.
Chelsea now face Manchester United in the FA Cup final later this month and host Everton later on Sunday, while Liverpool will take plenty of positives into their next match at home to title-chasers Manchester City on Sunday.