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

Unlike last weekend at Kingsmeadow, the match between Liverpool and the Blues went on as planned. Captained by the Australian striker, Sam Kerr for the third game in a row, the Chelsea Women were able to hold on against Matt Beard’s side as the Blues seek to capture its third consecutive FA Cup.

It may have been a stressful last five minutes following Gemma Bonner’s goal to bring the deficit to one, but CFC was able to grind out a win against the only team that has managed to defeat it in any competition this season.

Niamh Charles took advantage of the opportunity as the starting right back with Eve Perisset out with two pinpoint assists into the box that were finished with precision by Kerr. It is now the fourth game in a row that Kerr has been able to find the back of the net, and the second straight instance in which she netted two or more in 90 minutes. Liverpool may have scored two goals, but one of them was a cracker from outside of the box by Ceri Holland.

CFC’s inability to clear the ball around the goal mouth in the 85’ cost another goal, but in the FA Cup, the performance matters much less compared to the result. Despite the Red’s place in the WSL table and their latest results, Beard has now given his former club the best he had twice. Liverpool are only the second club so far this season to score two or more against Hayes’ side, and the Reds have managed it twice.

From Melanie Leupolz’s return to the pitch to Jessie Fleming’s masterclass in the midfield, Sunday afternoon at Kingsmeadow was nothing but a success. Here are the takeaways from a vital victory in CFC’s first full match on its home turf since the turn of the new calendar year:

3 takeaways from Chelsea vs Liverpool Women’s FA Cup

Kerr continues her tear in front of goal

With her second hat trick of the season in front of the home fans, Kerr passed Bethany England on the CFCW all-time scoring list with 77 goals. The Australian now trails Fran Kirby by 32 goals for the most goals in Blues’ history. It was like another day at the office for Kerr.

She put on a clinic, netting one goal with a stunning volley, another with her right foot on the ground, and the last with her head at the far post. Each goal for the Blues was manufactured through three brilliant passes that were all finished off by Australia’s all-time leading goal scorer.

With Fran Kirby sitting in behind Kerr in the attack, it was only a matter of time before the two connected for a goal scoring opportunity. As many saw at Brisbane Road during the mid-week, Kerr looks like a completely different player with Kirby on the pitch with her. It was in fact the first time since November of 2021 when the two combined for all five goals in a victory over Birmingham City.

The Reds gave one of the world’s most dangerous strikers far more space in the penalty area than is acceptable. Charles showed off her importance on the flank, but  Kerr once again shows the world that there will be no drip in goal-scoring form anytime soon.

Many worried in December after some eye-raising misses that Kerr was looking at a decreased goal total compared to last season. It was Kerr’s 18th goal in all competitions to lead the team so far during this campaign.

Three clinical finishes highlighted by a goal of the season contender only Kerr could scored summed up an afternoon to remember for the Australian at the top of her game right now.

Jessie Fleming sends message with phenomenal 90 minutes in the midfield

Emma Hayes would be lying if she thought Canadian International, Jessie Fleming has found her place in the team this season. Fleming has been tossed around in many midfield positions so far this season, and none of them have clicked completely. Sunday afternoon against Liverpool it finally did. With Hayes giving her the nod alongside Erin Cuthbert in the middle of the pitch, Fleming had to deliver, and deliver she did.

The former UCLA attacker was critical in a multitude of the Blues’ attacking combinations, playing a key role in Kerr’s second of the afternoon with phenomenal pressing play. This is what Hayes, and Chelsea have been waiting for from a player that finished as the leading scorer for her national team in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship this past summer.

When Fleming extended her contract with CFC, Hayes leaned on her untapped potential in blue as the key reason. The Canadian has the ability to be the cause as much havoc to a backline as anybody in women’s football. Just a few weeks ago, Fleming was nominated along with her teammate, Kerr in west London for The Best FIFA Women’s Player award. CFC fans should get used to performances like this from Fleming because with the extension of her contract, she could be the key that unlocks the Blues’ attack for many years to come.

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.