Chelsea's Women's Super League (WSL) title hopes suffered a setback after a 1-1 draw against a resilient Liverpool side on Sunday. The Blues, who entered the match as favorites, were unable to secure all three points against the Merseyside team, who are battling to escape the bottom of the league.
The match began brightly for Chelsea, with Alyssa Thompson scoring in the 9th minute following a swift counter-attacking move. Wieke Kaptein drove towards the box before setting up Thompson, who curled a shot into the top corner. However, Liverpool responded in the 33rd minute when Beata Olsson, becoming the first Liverpool player to score in three consecutive WSL games since February 2020, latched onto a long ball and slotted it past Chelsea's debutant goalkeeper, Livia Peng.
Despite Chelsea's dominance in possession, Liverpool defended valiantly, stifling the Blues' attack. Chelsea had a goal disallowed in the second half when Aggie Beever-Jones was ruled offside. Beever-Jones had another chance, but her shot went wide. Liverpool's Lily Woodham also came close to giving her team the lead. In the end, neither side could find a winning goal, resulting in a draw.
The draw means that Chelsea now sit three points behind league leaders Manchester City. City had earlier defeated Manchester United 3-0, increasing the pressure on Chelsea to keep pace in the title race. Chelsea's failure to win against Liverpool marks the second consecutive week they have dropped points, following a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Chelsea, managed by Sonia Bompastor, set a new WSL record by extending their unbeaten run to 34 matches. However, the team's recent draws have allowed Manchester City to gain control in the title race. Chelsea's captain, Millie Bright, also made history in the game, making her 211th league appearance, overtaking Jordan Nobbs to become the all-time WSL appearance maker.
Liverpool, under new manager Gareth Taylor, earned a valuable point, which could boost their confidence as they fight to move up the WSL table. The team's resolute defending and Olsson's goal demonstrated their determination to compete despite their difficult start to the season.
Chelsea will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League clash against Barcelona. The Blues will be aiming to bounce back from this setback and reignite their title challenge in the WSL. The draw leaves Chelsea's hopes of winning a seventh consecutive WSL title in the balance.
