Sam Kerr is on a whole different level for the Chelsea Women

Watching Sam Kerr in the front of the Chelsea attack recently just reminds the club how lucky it is to have her in its possession. During the past few years, the Chelsea Men’s team has struggled to find that elusive striker who can find at a moment’s notice to snatch a winning goal. Just across the way though, it seems as if Kerr is breaking records in some way every year. For the second straight season, Kerr will undoubtedly finish at the top of the Women’s Super League in goals.

Last week, she was awarded the FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year—along with Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah on the men’s side—as the footballer that performed above the rest this season in English football. There is no other striker in today’s game on the women’s side that is as creative and efficient as Kerr has been her entire career. Coming over from the National Women’s Soccer League (United States) in 2020, she has plenty of high expectations thrown her way, but there is no doubt that she has exceeded them and then some.

Sam Kerr is on another level right now for the Chelsea Women

Following the Footballer of the Year news, manager Emma Hayes expressed her thoughts on her superstar striker, stating:

"“She’s such a top player, in every way … You go and look at her all-around stats as a centre forward and no-one comes close to her in this league—maybe worldwide … She works her socks off, she has the contribution to team goals, and there’s her own goalscoring record. Her work rate is phenomenal.”"

This season, Kerr broke a club record by scoring in seven consecutive WSL matches. She found the back of the net 10 times in those seven matches, including two season saving goals against Spurs and Aston Villa. Kerr has made 39 starts this season combined for her national team and Chelsea in all competitions. Further, she has netted a mind-boggling 39 goals in 43 total matches played in 2021/22. In the WSL this season, Kerr actually has more goals than she starts. Hayes will say that she should score more given the opportunities that she receives every match, but there is no question she is one of the most clinical forwards in world football. Her ability to not only finish, but do it at a consistent level, separates her from the rest. When the Blues need a goal, and the time is running out, there is only one answer to the problem—Kerr.

She ranks in the top 10 in the WSL for goal-creating actions and top-three in total shots this season. One of the things that separates Kerr from the rest of the pack is her unmatched efficiency in the box. Kerr ranks first in the league for most shots on target with 38, just one ahead of Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema. This statistic does not tell the whole story either. Kerr is seventh in the WSL for shots on target percentage at an astounding 55.1%, while Miedema is all the way down in 38th in this category. Kerr sits first in the WSL in expected goals and second in the league in shots on target per 90 minutes, miles ahead of Miedema. No matter what striker in the WSL someone compares her to, they are no match for the Australian nightmare.

A lot of the credit has to go to her teammates for putting her in the position to succeed, but someone has to be there to finish the job off. Her hustle and pressing ability at the No. 9 position is world class and one of the big reasons why Chelsea creates loads of chances. From cheeky chips to powerful strikes, Kerr possesses an all-time finishing package. She finds little pockets in between defenders where she uses her speed to make a run or take a few touches before she rockets a shot into the net. The fact that she has the potential to score even more goals is remarkable in and of itself, but there is a clear reason why Kerr continues to rack up the goals on the scoresheet year after year.

There is simply no league in the world where Kerr will not dominate. She lit up the NWSL by winning two league MVPs and now, she is doing her thing with the Blues in the WSL. Consistency is key, and while the attack on the men’s team struggles to find it, Kerr is the prominent reason why Hayes’ side does not drop crucial games like Thomas Tuchel’s squad has done this season.

With just two matches left in the season for Chelsea, Kerr has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Hayes has had to lean on Kerr even more in the attack without Fran Kirby. Despite the last two contests being must-win situations, Kerr has demonstrated all year that she is willing to step to the plate in the brightest of moments. She does not waver in the pressure, Kerr flourishes in it, and that is the difference between a great footballer and a legendary one.

Where do you think Kerr ranks amongst all-time FAWSL greats? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!