Chelsea lost more ground at the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) after being held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool in St Helens, although the Blues still set a new league record of 34 successive games unbeaten.
The visitors, looking to close back to within a point of leaders Manchester City following their impressive derby win on Saturday, took an early lead through Alyssa Thompson, but Beata Olsson equalised before the break.
Chelsea substitute Aggie Beever-Jones saw a second-half goal ruled out for offside as Sonia Bompastor’s side were left three points behind City and must now regroup for their Champions League clash against Barcelona on Thursday night.
The Blues, again without England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton through injury, went ahead in the eighth minute when Wieke Kaptein fed Thompson on the left and she cut back inside to fire a right-foot shot into the top corner.
Liverpool, who picked up a first WSL point in a 1-1 draw with Brighton last weekend, were back on level terms in the 32nd minute when Olsson raced from her own half to take a through-ball from Lily Woodham and sprinted into the area before slotting past Livia Peng.
Chelsea should have retaken the lead five minutes before half-time, but Catarina Macario stabbed the ball wide from six yards.
Liverpool almost got themselves back in front early in the second half when Ceri Holland’s strike from the edge of the box was deflected wide.
Beever-Jones had the ball in the net just after the hour but was a yard offside from Erin Cuthbert’s pass.
The England forward then latched on to a high ball into the Liverpool area before lifting a deft finish over Reds keeper Faye Kirby, but the effort dropped just wide.
Liverpool full-back Woodham saw her late angled effort fly narrowly past a post as both sides had to settle for a point, with Gareth Taylor’s team now bottom after West Ham’s win.
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