Key events
Half Time: Chelsea 1-0 Everton
Chelsea lead at the break thanks to Reiten’s spot kick. But, Everton are still well and truly in this game.
45+2min: Ramírez wins the ball from Kühl in midfield and sends it to Kaneryd on the right before making a run into the box. Kaneryd plays it back to the striker, but she is not given enough space to turn and shoot so Chelsea are forced back out.
45min: Four minutes have been added on to the end of the first half.
42min: Sky Sports are reporting that Payne was booked instead of Wheeler for the penalty incident in a possible case of mistaken identity.
If that is the case, it’s a very bizarre mistake for referee Emily Heaslip to make.
38mins: James sends a phenomenal cross into the box. It flies over the head of Ramírez to Reiten at the back post, but the winger can’t get her shot on target.
There is brief concern for Chelsea as James goes to ground seeking treatment for what appears to be a minor injury, but she is able to continue.
35min: Everton are pushing for an equaliser. Sørensen’s side have looked dangerous on the attack so far, but they have struggled to make the most of their chances.
31min: Everton have a huge chance to equalise as Bennison’s cross from the right flies across goal to Galli at the back post, but the midfielder can’t direct her effort on target from close range.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Everton (Reiten, 28′ pen)
Reiten converts from the spot to break the deadlock. Brosnan went the right way, but could not quite get to the ball before it nestled into the bottom-left corner.
PENALTY Chelsea!
Reiten goes to ground following a challenge from Wheeler in the box and Chelsea have a penalty!
Wheeler is booked for the challenge while Brosnan and Payne also receive yellow cards, likely for dissent.
23min: Another big chance for Chelsea as a corner is sent into the box. Brosnan looks to punch it clear, but instead parries the ball onto her own crossbar. Luckily for Everton Wheeler is there to make a last-gasp goal-line clearance.
20min: Huge chance for Chelsea as Ramírez drops back into midfield to receive the ball. She makes a direct run into the box before sending a cross to Reiten, who goes for goal, but Brosnan makes a great save.
18min: Ramírez does well to win possession for Chelsea in midfield before the ball is switched to Lawrence. The hosts are happy to keep it while in search of a gap in the opposition defence, but Everton are eventually able to turn it around.
14min: Vanhaevermaet wins the ball and plays it to Kühl in midfield. The Arsenal loanee turns before making an attacking run and passing the ball through to Madsen, but the forward loses it in the box.
11min: Kaneryd wins the ball in midfield and drives out to the right. Lawrence makes the overlapping run and picks the ball up from her team-mate, but she loses out to Finnigan.
9min: Everton have another corner but this time the ball is headed clear by Björn. A very strong defensive display from the ex-Everton star so far.
5min: Everton go on the attack and win a corner following a Björn deflection. The ball is sent into the box and claimed by Hampton, who immediately looks to play it forward.
A long pass is sent over to Kaneryd, who brings it down with a fantastic touch before playing it through to Ramírez. The striker goes for goal, but her effort is blocked.
2mins: Everton start the game in possession but it is quickly turned over to Chelsea.
The hosts press high and instantly apply pressure on the Everton defence as Ramírez looks to receive the ball in the box, but it runs out of play.
Kick Off
We’re underway at Kingsmeadow!
The teams are out at Kingsmeadow.
Kick off is just a few minutes away!
From Manchester to Merseyside, recap all of today’s WSL action so far with our WSL roundup.
Elsewhere in the WSL today Manchester City drew level on points with Chelsea following a 2-0 win over Leicester. Meanwhile, Arsenal failed to keep up after suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
At the bottom of the table, Rehanne Skinner’s side leapfrogged Everton and Brighton after their triumphant win over Arsenal. Brighton fell further into the relegation battle following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. Bristol’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday was not enough to lift them out of the danger zone.
And the points were shared in a mid-table battle between Liverpool and Tottenham, with the final score at 1-1.
Ramírez makes full debut
Mayra Ramírez starts for Chelsea for the first time this evening. The striker joined Emma Hayes’ side in a British record transfer last month after impressing for Levante in Liga F.
She replaces Mia Fishel in the Chelsea XI.
Here are the teams…
Chelsea XI: Hampton, Carter, Björn, Charles, Lawrence, Leupolz, Cuthbert (C), Reiten, Kaneryd, James, Ramírez. Substitutes: Mušović, Fishel, Ingle, Nüsken, Kirby, Périsset, Buchanan, Čanković, Beever-Jones.
Everton XI: Brosnan, Finnigan (C), Stenevik, Wheeler, Vanhaevermaet, Bennison, Piemonte, Payne, Kühl, Galli, Madsen. Substitutes: Hart, Bissell, Dale, Hope, Snoeijs, Olesen.
Preamble
Chelsea will look to continue their WSL title charge this evening against an out-of-form Everton side. The hosts are unbeaten in their last 13 league meetings with Everton, winning the last eight.
Emma Hayes and her players were handed a huge boost this afternoon with fellow title chasers Arsenal suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to West Ham. But Manchester City remain hot on their heels following a 2-0 win over Leicester.
Defender Nathalie Björn is in line to start against her former club less than one month after swapping Merseyside for West London. Meanwhile, club-record signing Mayra Ramírez could make an appearance off the bench.
Plenty is on the line at both ends of the table this evening, with Everton now embroiled in a relegation battle.
Kick off is at 18:45pm GMT.
