Sam Kerr double helps Chelsea past Reading and back to top of WSL
Chelsea returned to the top of the table in some style, putting five goals past Reading in front of a full house at the Kingsmeadow. Emma Hayes’ side played the late kick-off after Arsenal had also won by five goals against Leicester. Neither factor, however, seemed to affect their performance as they flexed their attacking muscles despite being without key players.
Chelsea, buoyed by the return of fans in the stands, looked to reward their support from the onset in the form of an early charge at Grace Moloney’s goal. Leading the attack was the talismanic Sam Kerr, bouncing passes off Erin Cuthbert, and seeping through the gaps of Reading’s stringent back four.
Without Fran Kirby, Pernille Harder, and Ji So-yun to supplement her play, the Australian instead depended upon the five-player midfield behind her to help fuel counters. One of the five was the in-form Guro Reiten, who had scored five times in her last nine games, and the Norwegian was orchestrating the play from her preferred position off the left.
Liverpool will return to the Women's Super League next season after securing the Championship title with a 4-2 win at Bristol City.
Goals from Niamh Fahey, Jas Matthews, Katie Stengel and Missy Bo Kearns secured victory in front of 5,752 supporters at Ashton Gate, a record attendance for the division. City were Liverpool's closest challengers, but defeat leaves them 14 points behind with three games left to play.
'We've worked incredibly hard to get back [to the WSL], said the Liverpool manager, Matt Beard, who led the Reds to the WSL title in 2013 and 2014. 'Our aim and ambition will be to be sensible, consolidate ourselves and then progress year-on-year.'
Vivianne Miedema scored twice in a second-half flurry of