Key events
That’s all from me! I’ll leave you with a roundup of today’s WSL action. Thanks for reading!
Next up Chelsea face Sunderland in the League Cup on Wednesday before taking on Crystal Palace next weekend.
Meanwhile, Everton jump straight into FA Cup action against Nottingham Forest next Sunday.
Chelsea return to the top of the table win that win over Everton, three points clear of Manchester City and now six points clear of Arsenal.
A look at Cuthbert’s goal…
“Brilliant goal from Chelsea” 🤩
Chelsea Captain Erin Cuthbert bursts into the box to produce a nice finish past Brosnan into the bottom corner ⚽ pic.twitter.com/Rl5CdJBT1l
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) February 4, 2024
Full Time: Chelsea 3-0 Everton
Another comfortable win for the reigning WSL champions. Chelsea maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table.
90+4min: Chelsea go on the attack again as Kirby sends the ball through to Nüsken. The winger goes for goal with her first touch, but her effort runs just wide.
90+2min: We’re into seven minutes of added time…
89min: Another change for Chelsea as goalscorer Cuthbert is replaced by Čanković.
88min: We’re approaching the final stages of the game now and Chelsea have a corner. The ball is crossed into the box and finds Fishel, who goes for goal, but her headed effort is saved by Brosnan.
84min: The Everton defence is exposed by an excellent Chelsea attack which culminates in the ball being chipped over to Cuthbert, who places it into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards out!
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Everton (Cuthbert, 83′)
Chelsea have a third – this one from open play!
RED CARD Everton – Sørensen
Everton boss Sørensen has been sent off following two yellows in quick succession, both for dissent. The first came while making a substitution. There appeared to be some confusion among the Everton coaching staff and the officials while Wheeler was making way for Olesen.
78min: Chelsea make three more changes. Ramírez is replaced by Fishel, Reiten is replaced by Beever-Jones and Nüsken is on to replace James.
It was an excellent debut performance from Ramïrez – Chelsea fans have plenty to smile about!
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Everton (Reiten, 73′ pen)
Reiten steps up to take the kick and converts once again, this time with a fantastic strike into the top-left corner, sending Brosnan the wrong way!
PENALTY Chelsea!
Wheeler gives away another spot kick, this time for a challenge on Ramírez!
70min: James almost takes advantage of a lapse in concentration from the Everton defence, but the visitors manage to clear the danger… just.
68min: Hayes is next to make a change, with Kirby replacing Kaneryd.
Another brilliant performance from the midfielder.
65min: James is booked for a late challenge on Stenevik.
61min: Another big chance for Chelsea as James is sent through on goal by Björn, she faces pressure from Payne but goes one-on-one with Brosnan. However, she drags her shot wide! It’s very rare that the England international misses those kind of chances!
60min: Ramírez shows off her speed and strength once again as she makes a run into the box. She squares the ball to Kaneryd, but the midfielder’s shot flies over the crossbar.
58min: Everton are first to make a change as Madsen is replaced by Bissell. It was a very positive performance from the winger, who joined the club just two weeks ago.
55min: The ball is sent through to James in the final third, but Brosnan comes out to make a challenge. The goalkeeper over-commits while closing James down and is dragged away from her box before retreating to the goal line. Luckily for Everton, nothing comes of the attack.
54min: The hosts make their way into the box once again, but an effort is blocked and the ball falls to Leupolz on the edge of the box. The midfielder goes for goal, but her strike flies over the bar.
52min: Chelsea go on the attack now as James plays a one-two with Charles on the left. Charles looks to cross the ball into the box, but Vanhaevermaet makes the interception and the hosts have a corner.
Nothing comes of the set piece as Brosnan rises to collect the cross.
49min: James is dispossessed by Madsen on the right and Everton beak forward. The visitors play with patience while they look for an opening, but Chelsea do well to keep them at bay.
47min: Here’s a quick look at that penalty decision… What do you think, Everton fans?
Kick Off: Chelsea 1-O Everton
We’re back underway at Kingsmeadow!
Mayra Ramírez was one of Chelsea’s most threatening players during the first half. Suzanne Wrack has looked at the ‘fresh strengths’ she brings to Emma Hayes’ squad.
Half Time: Chelsea 1-0 Everton
Chelsea lead at the break thanks to Reiten’s spot kick. But, Everton are still well and truly in this game.
45+2min: Ramírez wins the ball from Kühl in midfield and sends it to Kaneryd on the right before making a run into the box. Kaneryd plays it back to the striker, but she is not given enough space to turn and shoot so Chelsea are forced back out.
45min: Four minutes have been added on to the end of the first half.
42min: Sky Sports are reporting that Payne was booked instead of Wheeler for the penalty incident in a possible case of mistaken identity.
If that is the case, it’s a very bizarre mistake for referee Emily Heaslip to make.
38mins: James sends a phenomenal cross into the box. It flies over the head of Ramírez to Reiten at the back post, but the winger can’t get her shot on target.
There is brief concern for Chelsea as James goes to ground seeking treatment for what appears to be a minor injury, but she is able to continue.
35min: Everton are pushing for an equaliser. Sørensen’s side have looked dangerous on the attack so far, but they have struggled to make the most of their chances.
31min: Everton have a huge chance to equalise as Bennison’s cross from the right flies across goal to Galli at the back post, but the midfielder can’t direct her effort on target from close range.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Everton (Reiten, 28′ pen)
Reiten converts from the spot to break the deadlock. Brosnan went the right way, but could not quite get to the ball before it nestled into the bottom-left corner.
PENALTY Chelsea!
Reiten goes to ground following a challenge from Wheeler in the box and Chelsea have a penalty!
Wheeler is booked for the challenge while Brosnan and Payne also receive yellow cards, likely for dissent.
23min: Another big chance for Chelsea as a corner is sent into the box. Brosnan looks to punch it clear, but instead parries the ball onto her own crossbar. Luckily for Everton Wheeler is there to make a last-gasp goal-line clearance.
20min: Huge chance for Chelsea as Ramírez drops back into midfield to receive the ball. She makes a direct run into the box before sending a cross to Reiten, who goes for goal, but Brosnan makes a great save.
18min: Ramírez does well to win possession for Chelsea in midfield before the ball is switched to Lawrence. The hosts are happy to keep it while in search of a gap in the opposition defence, but Everton are eventually able to turn it around.
14min: Vanhaevermaet wins the ball and plays it to Kühl in midfield. The Arsenal loanee turns before making an attacking run and passing the ball through to Madsen, but the forward loses it in the box.
11min: Kaneryd wins the ball in midfield and drives out to the right. Lawrence makes the overlapping run and picks the ball up from her team-mate, but she loses out to Finnigan.
9min: Everton have another corner but this time the ball is headed clear by Björn. A very strong defensive display from the ex-Everton star so far.
5min: Everton go on the attack and win a corner following a Björn deflection. The ball is sent into the box and claimed by Hampton, who immediately looks to play it forward.
A long pass is sent over to Kaneryd, who brings it down with a fantastic touch before playing it through to Ramírez. The striker goes for goal, but her effort is blocked.
2mins: Everton start the game in possession but it is quickly turned over to Chelsea.
The hosts press high and instantly apply pressure on the Everton defence as Ramírez looks to receive the ball in the box, but it runs out of play.
Kick Off
We’re underway at Kingsmeadow!
The teams are out at Kingsmeadow.
Kick off is just a few minutes away!
From Manchester to Merseyside, recap all of today’s WSL action so far with our WSL roundup.
Elsewhere in the WSL today Manchester City drew level on points with Chelsea following a 2-0 win over Leicester. Meanwhile, Arsenal failed to keep up after suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
At the bottom of the table, Rehanne Skinner’s side leapfrogged Everton and Brighton after their triumphant win over Arsenal. Brighton fell further into the relegation battle following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. Bristol’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday was not enough to lift them out of the danger zone.
And the points were shared in a mid-table battle between Liverpool and Tottenham, with the final score at 1-1.
Ramírez makes full debut
Mayra Ramírez starts for Chelsea for the first time this evening. The striker joined Emma Hayes’ side in a British record transfer last month after impressing for Levante in Liga F.
She replaces Mia Fishel in the Chelsea XI.
Here are the teams…
Chelsea XI: Hampton, Carter, Björn, Charles, Lawrence, Leupolz, Cuthbert (C), Reiten, Kaneryd, James, Ramírez. Substitutes: Mušović, Fishel, Ingle, Nüsken, Kirby, Périsset, Buchanan, Čanković, Beever-Jones.
Everton XI: Brosnan, Finnigan (C), Stenevik, Wheeler, Vanhaevermaet, Bennison, Piemonte, Payne, Kühl, Galli, Madsen. Substitutes: Hart, Bissell, Dale, Hope, Snoeijs, Olesen.
Preamble
Chelsea will look to continue their WSL title charge this evening against an out-of-form Everton side. The hosts are unbeaten in their last 13 league meetings with Everton, winning the last eight.
Emma Hayes and her players were handed a huge boost this afternoon with fellow title chasers Arsenal suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to West Ham. But Manchester City remain hot on their heels following a 2-0 win over Leicester.
Defender Nathalie Björn is in line to start against her former club less than one month after swapping Merseyside for West London. Meanwhile, club-record signing Mayra Ramírez could make an appearance off the bench.
Plenty is on the line at both ends of the table this evening, with Everton now embroiled in a relegation battle.
Kick off is at 18:45pm GMT.
