Chelsea: 3 takeaways from Women’s FA Cup win over Liverpool as Sam Kerr nets hattrick

Jess Carter is the first choice left back right now

For now the third straight match, including the six minutes against Liverpool, Hayes has trusted the left side of the defense with Jess Carter instead of veteran, and captain Magdelena Erikkson. Could this be the passing of the torch given the contract situation that Erikkson is currently in at the club? There is no way to tell, but since the start of 2023, the English international has started more matches than she had in the first 16 games to begin the campaign.

Left back has been one of the most talked about positions for the Blues so far this season as longtime Blue Jonna Andersson confirmed her departure in April 2022. It is not just one match where Hayes has turned to Carter, it is now three consecutive. Many know that when they go up against Chelsea, the left back is essentially another center back playing out of position, and as of right now, Carter seems to be Hayes’ selection.

Carter signed an extension with the club until the summer of 2025 earlier this season in early October. Carter may have a background at mostly center back, but she presents the opposition with a new look that Erikkson does not on the left of Kadeisha Buchanan in the backline. Who knows which player is going to receive the call against Tottenham next weekend, but using the context clues of Hayes’ latest lineups, it may seem that Carter is the go-to player at left-back.

Hayes may feel that the team can get the most out of Erikkson as a center back, but with Millie Bright, and Buchanan holding down those two spots, the Swedish international looks to be on the outside looking in.