Lauren James stuns Liverpool with HAT-TRICK at Stamford Bridge – and becomes the youngest player to be involved in four goals in a WSL match – as Chelsea continue their winning start to the season with 5-1 victory 

• Lauren James’ hat-trick and assist ensured Chelsea remained on top of the table 
• Liverpool only managed to force an early lapse from Jess Carter into her own net 
• Chris Sutton is stunned by Ian Ladyman’s England Euro XI: It’s All Kicking Off

Chelsea have shown no signs of slowing down in the WSL so far, registering their sixth win of the season with a thumping 5-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. 

In the weeks that have followed Emma Hayes’ announcement that she will be leaving the Blues at the end of the season, her side have continued to silence their opponents, sending them six points clear at the top of the WSL table. 

Having kicked off the 2023-24 WSL campaign unbeaten, Chelsea recently netted six past Carla Ward’s struggling Aston Villa side, followed by 3-0 at Walton Hall Park against Everton. 

Their seventh match of the season saw Lauren James secure a hat-trick, as well as goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Sjoeke Nusken to take all three points off the Reds. 

It was James who opened the scoring just over ten minutes into play, though celebrations were short-lived when Jess Carter fumbled an own goal to level the scores. 

Lauren James looked unstoppable as she scored a hat-trick and an assist at Stamford Bridge 

Striker Sam Kerr (centre) did not make the scoresheet but celebrated wildly with team-mates 

James fired the hosts in front with a stunning strike into the back of the net after 10 minutes

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With the score level at 1-1, it didn’t take the hosts long to fire themselves back in front, with a pin-point pass to the back post which met with Beever-Jones’ header. 

The 20-year-old registered her fourth goal in the past four league matches, after enjoying two loan spells at Bristol City and Everton in the past two seasons. 

After the break, the hosts were fired-up once more with James’ two additional strikes securing her to the Player of the Match award. 

To finish off a stunning home performance, Sjoeke Nusken secured a fifth and final goal to top off an impressive display from Chelsea. 

It was Emma Hayes’ first domestic match since the announcement of departure from Chelsea

Chelsea are now six points clear at the top of the WSL table, with Arsenal in second place

Liverpool looked understandably disappointed with the 5-1 loss away from home as they were unable to improve on their place fifth in the table

Hayes rang in a number of changes for the home side, with Zecira Musovic in goal, and Sophie Ingle, Maren Mjelde, Eve Perisset alongisde goalscorers James and Beever-Jones amongst the new names on the team sheet in west London. 

Captain Ingle also marked her 184th appearance in the WSL – a record-breaking feat for the league. 

Matt Beard’s Liverpool side had previously enjoyed a strong start to the league, with three wins – including an opening day 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates – accompanied by a record-breaking crowd, but disappointed on Saturday on the road. 

Chelsea will face Paris FC during next week as they continue their Champions League campaign, before visiting hosting Leicester in the domestic league. 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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