Chelsea Women midfielder Sophie Ingle expects a tough challenge against a familiar opponent as the Blues welcome Liverpool to Kingsmeadow in the Women’s Super League this lunchtime.
The Welsh captain enjoyed a successful spell with the Reds, where she was named the club’s Player of the Year twice, before re-joining the Blues for a second time in 2018 where she has been an integral part of the success we have enjoyed since.
Ingle saw out 2022 on a positive note and signed a contract extension with the club until the summer of 2025 and soon after, she was awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to football and her role as Wales captain.
It’s been a successful season across domestic and European competition for Emma Hayes’ side who occupy top spot in the league table after just one defeat all season, which came against Sunday’s opposition in Merseyside on the opening day.
With time to reflect on the first half of the campaign, it is becoming increasingly clear that the competitive nature of the league is improving. Ingle alludes to an element of unpredictability around results and says the Blues need to be consistent at the business end of the campaign.
‘It’s been a good first half for us. Obviously the league is improving and you can see that in the results every week – no team is easy to play against – and if you look back to the first game of the season we lost against Liverpool. Then last week they go and lose 6-0 to Manchester United. Anyone can take points off anyone and we’ve got to be on our A game every single weekend.’
Newly-promoted Liverpool subjected us to a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at Prenton Park back in September, our opening game of the season. Having taken an early lead, two second-half penalties turned the game on its head and Ingle agrees we cannot take anything for granted in this league.
‘No, you can’t. That’s why I talked so much about having to keep yourself in games. You’ve got to keep doing the things you’ve trained all week to do, to stick to the game plan as much as possible, and get the result you need.’
Almost five years since returning to Chelsea from Liverpool, Ingle acknowledged the changes that have taken place at her former club in that time and having played under manager Matt Beard previously, the midfielder is expecting to a stern test at Kingsmeadow this Sunday.
‘It’s changed so much over the past few years and this is my fifth season at Chelsea, so it’s been a while since I was there. I’ve played under Beardy before, so I know he’ll have them working hard in a structure that will make it tough for us. It’s never an easy game against them.’