Chelsea manager Emma Hayes assuaged the jittery pulses of Chelsea and Matildas fans around the world after Sunday evening’s 7-0 thrashing of Everton as she played down whispers of any serious injury suffered by Sam Kerr.
The Australian striker was forced off shortly after the half-hour mark during Chelsea’s comfortable Women’s Super League victory over the Toffees, but it was the vision of the 29-year-old goal glutton lying on the pitch, head in hands that threatened to overshadow an otherwise positive performance from the reigning champions in their pursuit of retaining the WSL title, punctuated by the long-awaited return of Pernille Harder.
Despite speculation of serious injury to Kerr with just 72 days until the Women’s World Cup, Hayes was quick to downplay concerns, owing Kerr’s premature departure to a bout of cramp and illness.
“Sam was sick last night,” Hayes explained post match. “She decided to play but her calf was cramping up so we decided to take her out.”
Kerr etched herself onto the scoresheet seven minutes before her exit from the match as she rose to head home her 10th goal of the season from Niamh Charles’ cross. Despite Kerr's departure, the goal critically ignited an onslaught of Chelsea dominance that Everton were unable to weather.
Kerr’s impact in Chelsea’s attack has been integral to their sustained success, and Sunday’s goal saw her join prestigious company when she became just the second player in history to score 10 or more goals in at least three consecutive WSL seasons, after Arsenal ’s Vivianne Miedema, who conquered the feat four times between 2018 - 2022.
While injury to Kerr would signal serious unease for Chelsea in a heady final furlough of the season, Hayes was able to call on Harder from the bench, whose performance very nearly blotted out the lingering worry of Kerr's injury.
The Danish international, who has incrementally been returning from injury, scored with her first touch moments after coming on to seize a first goal in 193 days, her last goal arriving against Vllaznia in October in the Women’s Champions League group stages when the 30-year-old clinched a hat-trick.
Harder would later grab a second as Chelsea cruised to a 7-0 rout of Everton to lump more pressure on Manchester United at the top of the WSL table.
Dropped points from Manchester City courtesy of their shock loss to mid-table Liverpool on Sunday means Chelsea’s pursuit of a fourth successive league title rests tantalisingly in the Blues’ hands.
Chelsea sit four points behind league leaders Manchester United but with two games in hand.
Hayes criticised her side for another lethargic start to a match, a habit that very nearly cost Chelsea in their narrow victory over Liverpool in midweek.
But Sunday's comfortable victory suggests Chelsea have returned to top gear, and this week represents a critical watershed in their pursuit of silverware.
A mid-week fixture with relegation-threatened Leicester awaits before an FA Cup final against United at Wembley. Victory could issue a serious psychological blow to Marc Skinner's side in the race for the title.
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