Lauren James brilliance sinks Liverpool as five-star Chelsea take control of WSL

England striker Lauren James scored a superb hat-trick and added an assist as Chelsea beat Liverpool 5-1 to maintain their unbeaten record and move six points clear atop the Women’s Super League.

James, who was not in the starting line-up for Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Real Madrid, made her presence known early at Stamford Bridge with a goal in the 11th minute.

Her second was a rocket from the left side of the 18-yard box into the far corner, and she completed the hat-trick with a close-range finish in the 64th minute.

Lauren James brilliance sinks Liverpool as five-star Chelsea take control of WSL

Chelsea 5-1 Liverpool: Lionesses star James hit a hat-trick as Emma Hayes’s Blues maintained their unbeaten league record

Chelsea vs Paris FC

Chelsea made eight changes from the XI that started in Madrid when they faced Liverpool in the Women’s Super League at the weekend. A 5-1 victory menas they remain in the league and lead by three points.

Lauren James’s first Chelsea hat-trick was the highlight with goals too from Aggie Beevor-Jones and Sjoeke Nüsken.

Chelsea vs Paris FC

Chelsea come up against a club from the French capital in the Women’s Champions League for the second season running as Paris FC visit Stamford Bridge with both teams aiming for a first Group D victory.

The English side fell behind against Real Madrid last time out, thanks to Olga Carmona’s 10th minute strike, but looked on course to make a winning start.

Two headed goals from Niamh Charles and Sam Kerr gave the Londoners the lead only for Carmona to level from the penalty spot five minutes later.

Chelsea vs Paris FC line-ups

Chelsea XI: Berger, Lawrence, Buchanan, Carter, Charles, Cuthbert, Nusken, Rytting Kaneryd, James, Fleming, Kerr

Paris FC: Nnadozie, Soyer, Sissoko, Greboval, Bogaert, Korosec, Thiney, Corboz, Mateo, Bourdieu, Dufour

Millie Bright set to miss Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League clash with Paris FC

Chelsea captain Millie Bright is likely to miss her side’s Women’s Champions League meeting with Paris FC at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Blues manager Emma Hayes confirmed Bright has a knee problem and, although it is not a serious issue, said the 30-year-old will also be a doubt for Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses squad for the upcoming Nations League games against the Netherlands and Scotland in the first week of December.

Bright had knee surgery prior to last summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she skippered England to second place, before returning to pre-season training at Cobham ahead of the Women’s Super League season.

Millie Bright set to miss Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League clash with Paris FC

Blues manager Emma Hayes confirmed Bright has a knee problem.

Chelsea vs Paris FC team news

Chelsea captain Millie Bright is “50-50” due to a knee problem after missing the win against Liverpool. Guro Reiten, Melanie Leupolz, Catarina Macario, and Kateřina Svitková all remain on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Paris FC’s Alsu Abdullin, who is on loan from Chelsea, is eligible to face her parent club but major goal threat Mathilde Bourdieu is questionable.

How to watch Chelsea vs Paris FC

The match will kick off at Stamford Bridge at 8pm GMT on Thursday 23 November.

All Women’s Champions League group stage games will be available to stream for free in the UK. Fans will be able to watch the UWCL group stage up to and including Matchday 4 on DAZN’s YouTube channel, with coverage then moving to the DAZN app and platforms.

TNT Sports 1 will also be showing tonight’s clash between Chelsea and Paris FC with coverage starting at 8pm.

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