Head coach Sonia Bompastor has already been using her squad to change the side through September's lighter schedule, which will stand the side in good stead for when the busy part of the season kicks in.

The effective use of rotation can be easily explained through how Bompastor deployed winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd against West Ham United on Sunday.

Effective Rytting Kaneryd

The Sweden international had been introduced as an 87th-minute substitute during the 1-0 win over Leicester City at Kingsmeadow the week before, but was then picked for the starting XI against the Hammers.

Within 12 minutes, Rytting Kaneryd had found the back of the net. Finding space between two defenders in the penalty area, the winger was alive to the excellent cross from Wieke Kaptein and was able to finish from close range.

Remaining on the pitch for the rest of the match, her contribution did not stop there. A constant threat down the right-hand side, the 28-year-old created two further chances for team-mates and registered two shots on target from a total of three. She also put in four crosses and completed a total of 16 passes in the final third.

The graphic below shows Rytting Kaneryd's successful crosses, passes, ball recoveries and her goal against West Ham.

It was not only at the attacking end of the pitch that she proved to be decisive, though. Only Millie Bright (11) made more ball recoveries for Chelsea than Rytting Kaneryd’s eight during the match, while she also chipped in with one successful tackle during her total 100 minutes of action.

Cuthbert shines again

Playing an advanced central role behind the strikers, the experienced Erin Cuthbert once again showed her quality and work rate as the Blues put in our best performance of the campaign so far.

Scoring from a superb strike from well outside the box, the Scotland international made the most shots (six) of any Chelsea player on the day, finding the target with three of those attempts.

The heat map below shows Cuthbert's influence high up the pitch in central areas.

Ranking fifth among the Blues for completed passes (29) during her 78 minutes of action, Cuthbert also attempted five crosses and weighed in with five ball recoveries.

Super-sub Macario

When Catarina Macario was introduced in place of goalscorer Aggie Beever-Jones on the hour, the USA international injected fresh impetus against 10-player West Ham with an electrifying cameo.

Her sharp turn to beat the defender inside the box allowed the USA international to cross for Kaptein to finish just ten minutes later, and that assist highlighted just how smart on the ball she had been.

In just half an hour of action, Macario made four successful dribbles, fired three shots on target, in addition to her excellent assist for our fourth goal. Her hard graft in the final half hour of the match can be seen via the touch map below.

The striker also attempted the most crosses of any Chelsea player with eight, three more than Cuthbert in second place with five.

Rotation the new normal

While this trio stood out in the game against West Ham, the constant rotation of the side means that another group of players may take the lead in our forthcoming clash with second-placed Manchester United on Friday night.

Then comes an away trip to FC Twente the following Wednesday before a return to Kingsmeadow to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday of that week. That's exactly why making changes to the starting XI the norm through September seems so important for a Blues side with big ambitions once again this season.