Chelsea
Chelsea Women Player Ratings vs. Liverpool: 8/10 for Lauren James, 7/10 for Sjoeke Nusken
Chelsea Women secured a vital 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Kingsmeadow thanks to Lauren James’ brilliance and a clinical finish from Sjoeke Nusken. The Blues desperately needed three points following weeks of turmoil surrounding Paul Green’s shock exit and mounting pressure on Sonia Bompastor, and they delivered when it mattered most.
This was far from a vintage Chelsea performance. Liverpool started superbly and caused real problems with their pressing game, with Alice Bergstrom even putting the ball in the net after four minutes only to see it ruled out for handball. The Reds were frankly unlucky not to take the lead in the opening stages.
Chelsea lacked a clear focal point in attack without Sam Kerr starting, but James stepped up magnificently. She delivered a perfect low cross just before halftime that Nusken finished brilliantly to break the deadlock. James then produced an absolute worldie just after the hour mark, cutting in from the left and firing a wonderful strike beyond Jennifer Falk to seal all three points.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Hannah Hampton (7/10): Solid performance from the England international, who could not always rely on the defenders in front of her. Made important saves when called upon.
Ellie Carpenter (6/10): Struggled early on with defensive duties and couldn’t attack effectively as a result. Improved significantly as the match progressed.
Naomi Girma (6/10): Looked shaky in the opening period but grew into the game. More composed in the second half after Lucy Bronze’s introduction settled things down.
Veerle Buurman (7/10): Adapted brilliantly to a mid game positional switch. Got forward well and helped create space for teammates.
Sandy Baltimore (5/10): Ineffective going forward and looked uncomfortable defensively. Hooked at halftime, which tells you everything about her performance.
Midfield & Attack
Keira Walsh (6/10): Careless in possession early doors and struggled badly against Liverpool’s press. Improved after the break, but this was below her usual standards.
Erin Cuthbert (6/10): Provided some quality moments on the ball but was repeatedly beaten in physical duels. Needs to be stronger in these battles.
Sjoeke Nusken (7/10): Responded superbly to limited opportunities this season with an excellent finish. Always delivers when given the chance.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (5/10): Worked tirelessly and got into promising positions, but her final ball was severely lacking. Frustrating afternoon.
Lauren James (8/10): Chelsea’s best player by an absolute mile. Used her freedom intelligently to find space and delivered two match winning moments of genuine quality.
Alyssa Thompson (5/10): Grafted hard without the ball but couldn’t make an impact in the final third. Disappointing display.
Subs & Manager
Lucy Bronze (7/10): Made a massive difference after coming on at halftime. Played out of position at centre back but brought much needed solidity and experience to the backline.
Sam Kerr (6/10): Gave Chelsea a proper striker presence but should have scored when presented with a golden opportunity late on.
Sonia Bompastor (7/10): Her team selection raised eyebrows, but the halftime switch of Bronze to centre back changed the game. Got the result when under serious pressure.
WWE wrestler Chelsea Green enjoyed the full Chelsea experience when she was the guest of honour at Stamford Bridge against Brentford last month. The former two time and inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion made her first trip to the stadium to watch the Blues beat the Bees 2-0.
The 34 year old watched on from the Dugout Club as Liam Rosenior’s men secured victory after goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer. Green, who has Chelsea roots in her family with her mother and extended family being British, also sent a congratulatory message to the west London outfit on Instagram following the Club World Cup triumph last summer.
Dove in Headfirst as Chelsea Fans Do
The former AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion told talkSPORT, “I had the best time, I drank lots of champagne, I got a jersey. I really just like dove in headfirst as the Chelsea fans do.”
Green, who joined talkSPORT as part of WWE 2K26 Creator Fest, was speaking to ex Chelsea star Tony Cascarino on Weekend Breakfast. However, she broke the 63 year old’s heart by admitting she would not don his retro kit after being gifted a shirt by Blues ace Marc Cucurella.
I’m a Kuk’s Girl Right Now
On the prospect of wearing a Cascarino kit, Green replied: “I don’t think so. I feel like, I’m sorry, but I feel like I’m a Kuk’s girl right now.” This is brilliant loyalty from Green, who clearly understands the importance of supporting current players over legends from the past.
Chelsea Fan for Life
Green recently opened up on her connection with Chelsea that goes far beyond simply sharing a name. “I’ve been a Chelsea fan for life. My grandparents are British, my mum is British, my cousins and uncle are here, and I also lived in Devon when I was seven and eight years old,” she told the Blues’ website.
The Canadian born wrestler was gifted a custom Chelsea FC belt and a Cucurella shirt during her memorable first visit to Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in what could prove decisive for the Gunners’ Premier League title ambitions. Arsenal sit top of the table with 61 points from 28 matches, five points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand, while Chelsea occupy 7th with 45 points after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Burnley at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
This represents a huge opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s side to put further distance between themselves and the chasing pack before facing Brighton away on Wednesday. Chelsea arrive at the Emirates in patchy form under Liam Rosenior, who has won just two of his eight league matches since replacing Enzo Maresca in January despite an encouraging start to his tenure.
Kick-off: 4:30 GMT, Sunday, March 1, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV: Sky Sports
Kai Havertz Returns to Haunt Former Club
Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that Kai Havertz will train on Saturday ahead of the Chelsea clash, giving the German a chance to feature against his former employers. Havertz has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since early February, but scored the winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi final victory over Chelsea earlier this month.
The 26 year old has endured a nightmare campaign with injuries limiting him to just 158 Premier League minutes this season, though he has still managed two goals and two assists when available. Viktor Gyokeres has flourished in Havertz’s absence, scoring twice in the 4-1 North London Derby demolition of Tottenham last weekend.
Rosenior Yet to Face Top Six Opposition
Liam Rosenior faces his first test against a top six side in the league since taking charge of Chelsea, having only faced teams sitting 7th or lower during his opening eight matches. His winning run needs proper context, given the quality of opposition, with recent dropped points against Leeds and Burnley at Stamford Bridge exposing serious vulnerabilities.
Arteta has beaten Rosenior twice already this season in the two legged Carabao Cup semi final, and the Spanish manager will fancy his chances of completing a treble over the Chelsea boss. Bukayo Saka should be fit despite limping off late against Spurs, while Ben White remains doubtful with a niggle.
Predicted Lineups: Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
Also read: Kai Havertz Injury Update: Real Timeline and Medical Details Revealed!
Chelsea
Chelsea FC Women Appoint New Sporting Director as Club Fill Power Vacuum Left by Paul Green Departure Earlier This Month
Chelsea FC Women have appointed Phil Radley as their new sporting director following the departure of long time general manager Paul Green earlier this month. The club has moved quickly to fill the power vacuum at the top of their women’s football organization with Radley set to start in his new role next month.
Radley had spent most of the past decade at Danish Super League club FC Nordsjælland, initially as legal counsel before becoming chief operating officer and, most recently, director of football. He stepped down at the start of this season and had been taking a break from the game for the last six months.
Looking Forward to the Challenge
“I am looking forward to the challenge of how we build on the already brilliant club Chelsea FC Women is, both in terms of today and what the club needs in the long term, and working with Sonia, the players and staff,” Radley stated after his appointment was confirmed.
The new sporting director added: “I know the ambition the club has, the huge ambition Sonia and this squad has and the winning mentality Sonia sees in the squad. I absolutely share that and can’t wait to get started on the road to greater success.”
Green’s Departure Caused Upheaval
Paul Green’s exit earlier this month came after 13 years at the club, during which Chelsea Women won 19 trophies. His departure followed a review that concluded fresh structure was needed following Emma Hayes’ exit to the United States.
Many expected Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart from the men’s side to step into the void, but Chelsea has instead opted to bring in an external appointment. Radley brings significant experience from his time in Denmark and will be tasked with maintaining Chelsea’s position as one of the top clubs in women’s football.
Chelsea face Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals next month in what promises to be a huge tie for both clubs.
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