Chelsea Women delivered a devastating performance to crush Liverpool 9-1 in the quarter-finals of the Women's Continental League Cup, booking their place in the last four with an emphatic statement of intent.
Rampant Blues Run Riot at Prenton Park
The match was effectively over as a contest within the first half-hour. Chelsea took the lead after just 13 minutes, with Sam Kerr finishing neatly from a low Niamh Charles cross. The Australian striker doubled her tally and Chelsea's advantage only four minutes later, capitalising on a Liverpool error in their own defensive third.
Wieke Kaptein made it 3-0 with a superb turn and strike from the edge of the area, before Aggie Beever-Jones added a fourth. The only setback for the visitors was Beever-Jones's subsequent withdrawal through a potential injury.
Rytting Kaneryd Steals the Show with Treble
After the break, the floodgates opened fully. Swedish winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd curled in a beautiful long-range effort to make it five. Liverpool's Jenna Clark managed a consolation goal from close range, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished moments later when Rytting Kaneryd's deflected shot restored the five-goal cushion.
Sjoeke Nüsken and captain Millie Bright both found the net, with Rytting Kaneryd completing her hat-trick in between. Her third goal came from a quick reaction to a rebound off the crossbar, highlighting Chelsea's superior hunger and speed throughout the match.
Pressure Mounts on Liverpool Boss Taylor
For Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor, the result was a new low. His side, bottom of the Women's Super League and still without a league win this season, were utterly outclassed. They struggled to win possession and were consistently second to loose balls, leaving the home supporters in the crowd of 2,467 visibly dejected.
The comprehensive defeat, which is Liverpool's worst of the campaign, will inevitably increase scrutiny on Taylor, who was appointed in August. Meanwhile, Chelsea march confidently into the semi-finals, demonstrating the formidable depth and firepower at Emma Hayes's disposal as they hunt for more silverware.
