[ad_1]
No Continental League Cup, no FA Cup, no Champions League and, whisper it, maybe no trophy at all. Emma Hayes certainly thinks so, with the Chelsea manager saying “the title is up for grabs” after the Blues suffered a 4-3 defeat at Liverpool to hand Manchester City the upper hand in the title race.
“I think the title is done,” she said. “Of course, mathematically it’s not, but I think the title is ready. Our job from now until the end of the season is to keep pushing until the end, but I think it will be very difficult.”
The game was end-to-end at Prenton Park, with four of the goals coming from the 80th minute onwards. Chelsea were in desperate need of a win to stay in the hunt after suffering the disappointment of Conte’s Cup final defeat to Arsenal, FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United and the Champions League semi-final exit from Barcelona.
“We knew they were a bit vulnerable after what the last month has been for them,” Liverpool manager Matt Beard said. “When you get out in front and get locked into a team like Chelsea, to go on and keep scoring is a great testament to the group.”
No team has ever lost three times in the WSL and won the league. It was Chelsea’s third defeat of the season, six points clear of City, with the London side having a game in hand. City have to play Arsenal and Aston Villa, but Chelsea have games against Bristol, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Hayes made three changes to the side that suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Barcelona after a 1-0 win away to end their dreams of reaching a second Champions League final in the manager’s final season in the club. Notably, Millie Bright returned to the starting XI for the first time since injury ruled her out in November, while Lauren James was left out of the squad for the match due to injury.
The traveling Blues may be in a battle with City to retain their league title, but Liverpool also have ambitions firmly set on a possible fourth place – they are level on 35 points with Manchester United, who they play on Sunday.
Beard made three changes to the team that won 1-0 over relegated Bristol City on April 20, including Gemma Bonner returning to the starting XI to make her 150th appearance for Liverpool.
It took less than 10 minutes for Chelsea to take the lead – Aggie Beaver-Jones nodding in from a corner with red bodies disappointingly static around her.
The early goal had made it look like this would be an opportunity for Chelsea to close the goal difference between themselves and City, but Liverpool’s struggle to be clinical in the first half was decisively dissipated in the second. They opened the equalizer within six minutes of the restart, with Sophie Roman Haug similarly unmarked for a corner and slotting home.
The momentum was shifting and Beard’s side took the lead in the 66th minute as Erin Cuthbert deflected Bonner’s header wide.
after the promotion of the newsletter
As exhausted as Chelsea looked, they put up a fight and a mistake by Teagan Mika helped them equalize with 10 minutes remaining, coming out to try and block a cross from substitute Guro Raiten and failing, with Beaver-Jones on hand to save it. hit fiercely in the second.
Just a minute later, Liverpool were back in front as substitute Leanne Kiernan rolled the ball past Hannah Hampton after a stunning pass from Chelsea’s Cherie Holland.
Chelsea pulled one back two minutes later, Catarina Macario sweeping in after a step from Cuthbert, who was blocked but rebounded from Mika to score an own goal.
Bonner scored the winner again in stoppage time, slotting the ball past Hampton from another corner to give the home side the three points and deal a heavy blow to Chelsea’s title hopes.
“We looked exhausted, but I’m not making excuses,” Hayes said. “I want to remind our fans how much success we have brought over the years. It won’t be this year, but I’m sure Chelsea will continue to be at the top of the game.”
[ad_2]
