Chelsea 2, Liverpool FC Women 0: Reds Can’t Sustain Pressure In Loss
Chelsea: Nusken 40’, James 65’
Liverpool: NA
Pre-Match
The Liverpool FC Women head to London for yet another early kickoff as they face Chelsea. The Reds finally have a modicum of momentum after winning their first two WSL matches over the last few weeks, along with putting forth a much stronger performance in a loss to Manchester United. Chelsea are in the unusual position of being not in first place and fighting for a Champions League spot in the table. The Blues have lost two of their last three.
Gareth Taylor will send out a similar lineup to the side that defeated Aston Villa 4-1 last Sunday. Alice Bergstron returns to the starting XI in place of Mia Enderby as the only change. Beata Olsson is still on the bench from the start as she works her way back to full fitness, with Martha Thomas getting another start as the central striker. Anna Josendal is still not fit enough to make the matchday squad, having yet to feature since signing in January. The bench is thin in midfield help as Kirsty MacLean is the only recognized depth.
First Half
It’s absolutely pouring down as the match kicks off. The conditions could play an impact as the footing deteriorates.
Liverpool are pressing high in the early going. They have caused several turnovers in good positions.
The Reds get the ball in the net in just the fourth minute, but the goal is chalked off. Liverpool start by creating a turnover on the left flank and Alejandra Bernabé sends a great cross into the box. The ball comes through to Alice Bergstrom, who sees the ball deflect up and hit her arm before she drills it into the far corner. The lineswoman immediately waves the flag for the handball. Not much Bergstrom could have done, completely incidental, but
After Chelsea have a bit of possession in the Liverpool half, the Reds get forward again with some great ball movement. After shifting the ball around a couple times, it comes to Ceri Holland on the left. She drives into the box and gets half a yard on her defender before drilling a strike on net. She stings the palms of Hannah Hampton, who can only parry the ball out for a corner.
The Reds send the corner kick in and it’s a dangerous ball that is partially cleared. Alejandra Bernabé challenges to try and keep the ball in the area, but just can’t nick the ball away.
Another nice passing sequence sees Liverpool get the ball together well. Denise O’Sullivan and Fuka Nagano find pockets of space in midfield to carry forward before Nagano slides the ball forward for Ceri Holland. The Welshwoman again drives forward with the ball, this time electing for a left-footed shot from distance that goes well over the goal. There was more room to take for Holland there.
Alejandra Bernabé with a good recovery run to get back 1v1 with Alyssa Thompson, and toe pokes the ball behind for a corner. The set piece causes a scramble in the box as Liverpool defenders throw their bodies in the way to block two shots before the danger can be cleared.
Fuka Nagano delivers a fantastic ball lofted over the defense for the run of Alice Bergstrom. The Swede gets the ball in the right channel and advances for the end line as runners make their way into the box. Bergstrom seems to get caught in two minds as Martha Thomas delays her run to be available for a cut back. Bergstrom eventually plays the cut back, but it’s too late and the ball is swept away.
Chelsea get forward themselves down the left as Sandy Baltimore gets on the ball. Baltimore uses her pace to skip past Risa Shimizu at the end line and rips a shot from a tight angle that Jennifer Falk does well to get down and hold.
Chelsea are starting to see more possession as the first half wears on, but Liverpool are still making life difficult for the hosts. Chelsea are not being given much time on the ball and are having to hurry passes. The Liverpool defense is also doing a very nice job of stepping up as a unit to catch the likes of Sandy Baltimore offside multiple times.
Another opportunity for Chelsea is dealt with by Jennifer Falk. Sjoeke Nusken has the ball on the right at the end line and delivers a very good low driven ball back across the face of goal. Falk quickly dives out to catch the ball before a Chelsea attacker can get to it.
Goal Chelsea. Jenna Clark does well to win an initial header, but Alyssa Thompson jumps into the Scots back and throws her off before she can clear the follow up ball, and it ends up with a scramble in the box that sees a shot blocked out for a corner. The set piece is initially dealt with, but it comes back out to Lauren James on the left. She delivers a great ball into the box, and it’s redirected past Jennifer Falk at close range by Sjoeke Nusken into the net in the 40th minute.
Ceri Holland with a brilliant turn in midfield to roll a defender and skate past a second before playing a pass forward for the run of Alice Bergstrom in the right channel. Bergstrom gets towards the right edge of the box and tries to slide the ball inside for the run of Martha Thomas, but can’t get the ball past the first defender.
Ceri Holland goes down off the ball as Liverpool are running back to defend. She got trod on and slightly rolls her ankle as well. It’s definitely a painful one, but she is ok to continue after a minute.
That’s it for the first half. Liverpool started off really well, but Chelsea began to create more as the half went on. The situation leading up to the goal was questionable, as it was a clear foul on Jenna Clark that allowed the corner kick, but that’s just par for the course this season.
Second Half
Gareth Taylor elects to make a change at the half. Mia Enderby comes on for Alice Bergstrom, who seemed to have taken a knock late in the first half. Chelsea also make a change, with Lucy Bronze coming on to replace Sandy Baltimore.
Mia Enderby immediately involved as she latches onto a great ball forward for her after Liverpool do well to move the ball out of the back. Enderby gets down to the end line and drives the ball across the face of goal, but Hannah Hampton gets down to cut the ball out.
Liverpool create a turnover in the attacking half, with Denise O’Sullivan getting control and immediately sliding it forward for Martha Thomas. The striker turns and tries a shot from the top of the box, but it doesn’t have enough power to truly trouble Hampton in net.
Martha Thomas again with a shot from distance after the high press creates a turnover. Like with the attempt just a minute earlier, Thomas hits it too close to Hampton in net and without much venom on it for an easy save. Still good signs from the Reds creating chances early in the second half.
Liverpool earn a corner kick after some solid pressure in the attacking half. The ball is worked to Martha Thomas at the top of the box, and she skips past a defender with a deft touch and tries to hit an curler. Her shot skews wide of the far post, however. Thomas had time to get more under control before hitting the ball.
Goal Chelsea. The Blues get forward and move the ball down the left flank. A simple pass to Lauren James in the left channel sees her faced up against the Liverpool defense, and she quickly accelerates past one player before she unleashes a rocket through a crowd and just inside the near post to double the lead.
Liverpool are struggling to create the same amount of energy with their high press as tired legs are evident. Arne Slot elects to bring in Aurelie Csillag for Marth Thomas in the 75th minute as the Reds look for some more energy while chasing the game.
Liverpool are trying to generate anything in the attack, and Risa Shimizu plays a ball forward to Mia Enderby on the right wing. The young attacker touches the ball past one defender as she cuts inside and is about to run into space before she is hauled back by Lauren James. A foul is called and James is shown a yellow card.
The set piece is swung in and only partially cleared. Liverpool force a throw in on the left side, taken by Alejandra Bernabé. She combines with Ceri Holland before Bernabé delivers a hopeful cross. The ball drifts towards the near post, causing Hanna Hampton to race over and see the ball go just on the outside of the near post and into the side netting.
Another change for the Reds as Kirsty MacLean comes on. She replaces Cornelia Kapocs in midfield.
A nice bit of attacking play from the Reds sees Aurelie Csillag involved in and around the box. She holds the ball up in the box initially before smartly recycling possession to Mia Enderby out right. The Reds move the ball around before Csillag is slipped through in the box. This time Csillag takes on a defender and gets a tiny bit of space on the outside before taking a shot, but she can’t get any control and the shot as it goes high over the bar.
Liverpool are slow to react to a ball that is run down by Aggie Beever-Jones on the left side of the box. Risa Shimizu is well out of position as the defense scrambles back and the attacker drives a shot to the near post. Jennifer Falk does well to get down to make the save.
Liverpool earn a late free kick about 35 yards from goal in a central area. Ceri Holland delivers it towards the back post, and it is headed out for a corner with Aurelie Csillag challenging for the ball. The corner kick curls in towards the goal, forcing Hanna Hampton to punch it from just under her crossbar before the ball is cleared away. That’s the last action of the match.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool put together a fairly good performance, especially in the first half. They caused plenty of trouble for Chelsea with the press and generated some solid chances, but could not convert. The gulf in overall squad depth came into play as Liverpool began to flag in the second half while Chelsea brought in the likes of Lucy Bronze, Sam Kerr, and Aggie Beever-Jones off the bench.
With the result, Gareth Taylor’s side will stay second from bottom, just a point ahead of Leicester City and just a point behind West Ham. Liverpool will take on a resurgent Everton side in FA Cup play next Sunday before the next international break. The Reds will have a string of winnable matches in the WSL after returning from the international break, facing the likes of Leicester City, Brighton, Everton, and West Ham.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
Post a Comment