Lauren James’ hat-trick helped Chelsea beat Liverpool 5-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as midfielder Sophie Ingle broke the record for the most appearances in the Women’s Super League.
James became the youngest player to contribute four goal involvements in a WSL game as Agnes Beever-Jones and Sjoeke Nusken also struck for the Blues, with Ingle registering her first assist of the season in her 184th WSL match.
She set up James for her first goal which gave Chelsea the lead, before Liverpool quickly pulled a goal back through a Jess Carter own goal.
However, Beever-Jones’ strike ten minutes later put Chelsea back in control, and two second-half strikes from James took the game away from Liverpool as she completed her hat-trick.
Nusken scored a fifth to wrap the game up with 12 minutes left on the clock as Chelsea sealed a dominant win.
The match marked an historic moment for Ingle and Chelsea, a week after the 32-year-old equalled former Birmingham City and Tottenham defender Kerys Harrop’s record of 183 appearances when she came on in Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Everton last week.
“It’s a nice record to get to. I’ve been in this league for many years now – and I suppose it shows my age as well,” Ingle said afterwards.
“It’s an honour for me to reach this, especially at a club like Chelsea. I’ve been in the league for many years, and it is getting harder and harder every year. But it’s a nice achievement for myself.”
Ingle was made an OBE for services to football in 2023 and is a four-time WSL champion, having won the title for four consecutive seasons between 2019 and 2023 during her second spell at Chelsea.
The Welsh international began her career at Cardiff before moving to Chelsea in 2012.
She left the London side for Bristol Academy in 2014 and went on to have an impressive three-year spell at Liverpool before returning to West London under Emma Hayes in 2018.
Chelsea’s emphatic victory over Liverpool moves them six points clear of second placed Arsenal after four successive wins.
Hayes’ side are yet to lose this campaign after the first seven matches, with only Manchester United also still unbeaten.
Next for Chelsea is a UEFA Champions League test against Paris FC on Thursday, a week after they drew 2-2 with Real Madrid in Spain.
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