Chelsea 5-1 Liverpool: 3 takeaways as James lights up the Bridge

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Lauren James of Chelsea celebrates with teammates Sam Kerr and Niamh Charles after scoring the team's third goal during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on November 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Lauren James of Chelsea celebrates with teammates Sam Kerr and Niamh Charles after scoring the team's third goal during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on November 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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Chelsea
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 18: Lauren James of Chelsea celebrates with teammates Sam Kerr and Niamh Charles after scoring the team’s third goal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on November 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

It was another regular match day at the office for Chelsea Women. Not the traditional office in Kingston though. This one is much larger. You can talk about the attendance issues at Stamford Bridge for Emma Hayes’ side all you want, but you cannot deny the dominance on display. On the back of just two days rest following a trip to the Spanish capital, the west Londoners messed around and put Liverpool in its place, walloping the away side 5-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Beating the Reds at home isn’t for everyone. Arsenal, we’re talking to you. It was even done with captain Millie Bright playing the role as the cheerleader on the sideline. The Blues have now won five straight in the league, outscoring their opponents by an absurd score of 20-4. Somehow, there are just three Women’s Super League fixtures left before the winter break. There are no signs that are informing us this team is slowing down anytime before that.

Hayes’ side let its anger out from the referee’s two decisions in the mid-week on Matt Beard’s innocent backline. As much as LFC has taken a step forward, it departed the Bridge on Saturday afternoon knowing who the boss was.

The home side made six changes from the team that drew Real Madrid on Wednesday night. Maren Mjelde took the captain’s armband while Lauren James was inserted on the left wing. CFCW academy product Aggie Beever-Jones made her first senior start for the club on the right wing.

Whenever the men’s team has taken the field at the Bridge this season, it has been hit or miss. The women have left no doubt so far. When the calendar reads, “Gameday at Stamford Bridge” there is something that excites this side to produce some sort of magic that few will forget.

Here are three things we took away from the west Londoners’ second triumph in front of the fans at the Bridge this season.