Chelsea FCW 3-2 Liverpool FCW, Women’s FA Cup: Post-match reaction

Anyone looking at Chelsea Women’s starting lineup for their game today against Liverpool in the FA Cup would quickly notice manager Emma Hayes and the Blues were in for a trouncing against Liverpool after being denied such an opportunity last weekend in the Women’s Super League.

From kick-off, our impetus would show just that. Relentless pressing and high lines would simply not allow Liverpool to play forward besides the odd goalkeeper punt from the area.

But more than 30 minutes in and the Blues were just lacking that final touch to start putting an end to Liverpool’s hopes of ever beating us at home. That finally came through with a great Sam Kerr effort, volleying the ball from a Niamh Charles cross.

In the second half Liverpool abandoned their “shell” and ventured forward, which did give Chelsea a bit of trouble. In return, the Blues scored a second goal via “Kerrby” with the Australian striker finishing on the Englishwoman’s assist.

The second goal did lead to Chelsea leaving their guard open, and Liverpool got one back via Ceri Holland. But we would not need to worry as Kerr would complete a hat-trick to give us some safety.

That third Kerr would prove key a few minutes later with the Reds getting one back once again, thanks to extremely shaky Chelsea defending. But at least we managed to hold our own until the final whistle, coming out as winners against Liverpool and moving to the FA Cup’s fifth round proper.

Carefree!

• An all-out attacking lineup for this match, with Fran Kirby, Jessie Fleming, Niamh Charles, Lauren James, Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten all involved from kick-off today.
• Subs are Magda Eriksson for Kadeisha Buchanan, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd for Guro Reiten, Sophie Ingle for Lauren James, Maren Mjelde for Fran Kirby, and Melanie Leupolz for Erin Cuthbert.
• Welcome back, Mel!
• Broadcasting rights can be a tricky thing. Still, to have this kind of game only broadcast in the United Kingdom via Chelsea’s official website is yet more evidence of how long women’s football still has to go.
• Refereeing like this does not help us one bit, either.
• The Kerrby pairing strikes again!
• Worrying defending leading up to both Liverpool goals, and we have seen too many instances of that throughout today’s match. Even if this could be a result of an extra-offensive lineup, it was still not a good sight.
• And a hat-trick for Kerr! If you ever wondered whether she had lost her magic... think again!
• With her strikes, Kerr becomes Chelsea’s second-best goalscorer with 77 goals — only behind Kirby’s 109 (!!!).
• Next up: Tottenham away in the Women’s Super League
• KTBFFH!