Everton FC Women 1 – 4 Chelsea FC Women | English FA Women’s Super League | 26 April 2026

Chelsea FC Women showcased their championship pedigree with a commanding 4-1 victory over Everton FC Women at Walton Hall Park, a result that maintained their grip on top spot in the FA Women’s Super League. The Blues, ruthless from start to finish, overwhelmed Everton with a combination of incisive passing, clinical finishing, and defensive discipline, leaving the Toffees with little consolation despite a spirited late response.

Match Overview

Chelsea asserted their dominance from the first whistle, controlling possession and pinning Everton deep inside their own half. The visitors struck twice inside the opening 20 minutes, and despite Everton briefly threatening after halftime, Chelsea’s quality shone through with two further goals to seal an emphatic win. A late Everton strike gave the home fans something to cheer, but the result was never in doubt.

Key Moments

• 9th minute: Chelsea opened the scoring when Pernille Harder volleyed home from a corner after a flick-on at the near post.
• 17th minute: The Blues doubled their lead through a brilliant solo run from Lauren James, who cut in from the right, danced past two defenders, and fired into the far corner.
• 52nd minute: Everton gave their supporters a glimmer of hope when Izzy Christiansen curled a free-kick over the wall and into the net, making it 2-1.
• 66th minute: Chelsea restored their two-goal cushion. Sam Kerr pounced on a loose ball inside the box, turning smartly and finishing low to the keeper’s left.
• 79th minute: The Blues added a fourth. Substitute Guro Reiten weaved into the box and was brought down, with Fran Kirby calmly converting the penalty.

Tactical Story

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation designed to overload Everton’s compact defensive block. The full-backs pushed high, creating space for James and Harder to drift inside. Everton, in a 5-3-2, struggled to close down passing lanes, allowing Chelsea’s midfield of Kirby and Cuthbert to dictate play. Everton’s brief resurgence after half-time came from switching to a 4-4-2, but Chelsea’s experience and depth proved too much.

Standout Players

Lauren James was unplayable for large stretches, scoring one goal and assisting another while completing seven dribbles. Sam Kerr was her usual predatory self, scoring a goal and occupying Everton’s center-backs throughout. For Everton, Hanna Bennison was tireless in midfield, but the Toffees lacked the cutting edge to trouble Chelsea’s backline consistently.

Table and Season Impact

The victory kept Chelsea top of the FA WSL standings, now two points clear of London City Lionesses with a game in hand on their title rivals. Everton dropped to 6th, their European qualification hopes dented by the defeat. Chelsea next face Arsenal in a blockbuster clash, while Everton travel to West Ham in a must-win match to keep pace with the top five.