Liverpool lost 5-1 to leaders Chelsea in the Barclays Women’s Super League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Lauren James scored a hat-trick either side of the first half and further goals from Agnes Beaver-Jones and Sjoke Nusken saw Matt Bird’s side lose.
The Reds briefly equalized in the first half thanks to a Jess Carter own goal, but suffered their second defeat of the WSL campaign in three tries in the second half.
Chelsea took the lead 10 minutes later when Jenna Clarke was dispossessed of the ball in midfield, Sophie Ingle fed James who fired past Gemma Bonner with a left-foot shot past Rachel Ross.
Beard’s side responded immediately when Shanice van de Sanden made her first league start of the season, turning brilliantly to the right and seeing it deflected into the net by a recovering Carter.
But the visitors fell behind again midway through the first half when James’ superb cross from the left led to Bieber-Jones’ clean strike at the far post. The lively James quickly forced a save from Rose and Marie Hovinger raced over in first-half stoppage time after Sam Kerr read her back pass and the ball bounced to safety as Australian Rose was brought down.
Liverpool brought on Missy Bo Cairns for Hoewinger at half-time and Van der Sanden was awarded a free at the first attempt of the second half and was easily saved by Jesera Musovic from 20 yards.
Bonner claimed a last-ditch challenge to keep the visitors in the hunt, the defender bravely denying Ingle after a Lowlar spill.However, Chelsea took the lead in the 56th minute when Kerr cut in on James and fired a fine left-footed shot inside the goal.
Cery Holland soon saved a penalty and Lowes denied Kerr one-on-one, but Liverpool wrapped up the hosts’ scoring in the 65th minute when James completed his hat-trick after a superb performance from Chelsea substitute Johanna .
Rything Canerid is on the right.With 21 minutes remaining for the Reds, Sophie Roman Haug’s header was blocked by Musovic and Eva Perisset cleared the ball off the goal line.
But the hosts scored their fifth after 12 minutes when Nusken fired a shot wide of Canelides’ far post to give Emma Hayes’ side a point.
TEAM
Liverpool: Loews, Clarke, Bonner, Fisk, Koivisto (Parry, 74), Hobinger (Kearns, 46), Nagano, Haaland, Hines, Roman H. (Lawley, 86), Van de Sanden (Kiernan, 74).
Substitutions not utilized: Mika, Lundgaard, Taylor, Enderby, Flint.
