Chelsea vs Reading: Seeking to ride momentum in WSL

In the previous league campaign, Emma Hayes without a doubt has December 11 engraved in her brain as a day that arguably triggered disaster in the Champions League just a few days later. That day was an outing on the road in the Women’s Super League against a Reading side that the Blues have never lost to in the previous 12 attempts, outscoring the Royals 10-0 on aggregate in the two head-to-head matches leading up to that. Despite 34 shots that afternoon, Reading outlasted CFC 1-0 through a goal by Canadian international Deanne Rose in the fourth minute.

For the Blues, it was one of the defining moments of last season. Just a few months later, in matchweek 19, CFC laid the hammer down on the Royals, trouncing them 5-0 at Kingsmeadow through two Bethany England goals in the second half. In the last two league wins against the Berkshire county side, Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr, and England have all scored at least two goals in commanding triumphs.

In particular, having Kirby back out on the pitch and fit at this moment in time is not only good because she helps fill the gaps with Pernille Harder on the sideline, the English international loves to play against the Royals. In seven league appearances against her former club, the Englishwoman has scored seven goals, including a four-goal outing with two world-class headers in early 2021 when she netted a hat-trick before the half-time whistle blew.