Lauren James scored a superb hat-trick as Chelsea emphatically increased their lead at the top of the WSL to six points with a 5-1 win over Liverpool.
The England forward had a hand in all five Chelsea goals on a memorable afternoon at the Bridge.
James rolled in the opener after 11 minutes to reward the Blues’ fast start, with Aggie Beever-Jones’ header restoring their lead after Jess Carter’s own goal had levelled proceedings.
The England star netted her stunning second when she arrowed in from close-range following impressive hold-up play from Sam Kerr and ensured she left with the match ball after finishing off Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s square pass.
Rytting Kaneryd set up the fifth of the day, too, laying the ball on a plate for Sjoeke Nusken to complete the rout with 12 minutes to play.
Chelsea move six points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the table as a result of their sixth win of the season, while Liverpool stay down in fifth. They could be leapfrogged by Manchester City on Sunday if they win the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
How Chelsea made light work of Liverpool at the Bridge
Chelsea started like a house on fire, delivering the fast start Emma Hayes had called for earlier in the season. Inside the first five minutes, a dangerous Niamh Charles cross was blocked, a shot from James was punched away and a deflection took Erin Cuthbert’s shot from 20 yards just over the bar.
Aggie Beever-Jones celebrates her goal against Liverpool
So it came as no surprise when the Blues took the lead. Sophie Ingle played a fine ball out to James on the left, where she faced up to Gemma Bonner and rolled a shot into the opposite corner.
Within seconds of the game restarting, though, Liverpool were level. Two split-second lapses in concentration allowed Shanice Van de Sanden to advance into the box and square across the area, with the unfortunate Carter diverting the ball into her own net.
Chelsea’s Lauren James (second left) celebrates scoring their fourth goal
Just as the game started to become more open, Chelsea got themselves ahead for the second time. The irrepressible James received the ball on the overlap and sent in the delivery of dreams, which Beever-Jones headed down and in.
Just 10 minutes after the break, the game was taken away from Liverpool. Kerr held the ball up well and, with three players around her, dropped it off to James who took a couple of touches and arrowed an effort into the bottom left corner.
Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nusken scores their fifth goal
Reds boss Matt Beard was then left furious when his side were not granted a penalty after Erin Cuthbert appeared to clatter into Ceri Holland just inside the area.
James added a her third and Chelsea’s fourth when she buried Rytting Kaneryd’s cross, moments after the Swede’s introduction – and even had a hand in the fifth by playing the ball through the eye of a needle to Rytting Kaneryd, who set up Nusken to add the gloss.
Player of the match – Lauren James
It goes without saying who took this accolade on a rainy Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
“It feels amazing, and even better to do it at the Bridge,” James told BBC Sport.
“With the news of Emma [Hayes] leaving, I think everything I do this year is thankful to her. She was saying how proud she is of me, and I’ve had a difficult last week with the news and everything.
“I’m so thankful I could get my confidence back with today’s performance.”
What’s next?
Chelsea play their second Champions League group fixture on Thursday when they host Paris FC, before hosting Leicester on Sunday November 26 in the WSL; kick-off 2pm.
Liverpool take on Manchester United in the Conti Cup on Wednesday, before hosting Brighton in the WSL on Sunday November 26; kick-off 2pm.