On a soggy afternoon at Kingsmeadow, the conditions weren't ideal for playing football. Yet Chelsea went about business as usual, building up our attacks with the usual skill and plenty of patience from the get-go.

After 40 minutes, that work paid off when a delightful curling cross from Lauren James met an onrushing Sjoeke Nusken and the German midfielder put us ahead with a decisive finish from close range.

In the second half, Chelsea kept the ball but created few chances. It mattered little when James powered a stunning strike into the top corner to kill off any opposition hope.

This was a professional home display, and one that saw us move into third place in the Women's Super League table with six games still to play this season.

One change made

Sonia Bompastor made just one alteration to her starting XI and it was an enforced one, as Sandy Baltimore came in for the injured Millie Bright - with Erin Cuthbert taking the armband in her absence.

Liverpool had the ball in the back of the net after four minutes, but the whistle had already blown for a handball from Alice Bergstrom in the build-up. With their tails up, the Merseysiders fired another early shot at the Chelsea goal, and Hannah Hampton had to get down quickly at the near post to deny a shot from Martha Thomas.

Much of Chelsea's play was coming down the left-hand side as Alyssa Thompson linked up well with Sandy Baltimore in attack early on, but the Liverpool defence managed to hold firm. And when the France international then laid the ball off to James on the edge of the box, the Blues number 10 whipped in an excellent cross but there wasn't a Blue shirt in position to get on the end of it.

Deadlock broken

James was involved once more when she played a neat one-two with Nusken on the edge of the area before playing in Thompson, but the American couldn't get the ball out from under her feet quick enough to pull the trigger.

It felt like the opener was coming as the Blues continued to push forward, and when James played a curling ball into the danger zone, Nusken was able to steer the ball into the back of the net to put us on top.

Chelsea continued to push for more goals as the second period began, and half-time substitute Lucy Bronze headed narrowly wide from an outswinging Cuthbert corner.

Advantage doubled

As the clock ticked past the hour mark a piece of individual brilliance put us further in front. As James saw the space open up in front of her, she cut inside and struck a powerful drive into the top corner, a just reward for a superb performance in the front line.

A substitution followed immediately afterwards. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd made way for striker Sam Kerr as she made a landmark 150th appearance in a Chelsea shirt.

Kerr went close at the near post after she was introduced, and compatriot Ellie Carpenter also hit a shot towards goal with two minutes remaining which was neatly gathered by Liverpool stopper Jennifer Falk.

Chelsea had kept the ball well throughout as we saw out the win, on a day when Liverpool rarely threatened our goal.

What it means...

We sit in third position in the WSL table, just one point behind Manchester United.

What comes next...

We are back at Kingsmeadow next Sunday as we take on Manchester United in the Women's FA Cup fifth round, with kick-off set for 1.30pm UK time.

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Buurman, Girma, Baltimore (Bronze h-t), Nusken (Kaptein 83), Cuthbert (c), Walsh, (Potter 74) James, Rytting Kaneryd (Kerr 66), Thompson (Beever-Jones 83)
Unused subs: Peng, Spencer, Sarwie, Reiten
Scorers: Nusken 40, James 65
Booked: James 79

Liverpool: Falk, Fisk (c), Shimizu, O'Sullivan, Kapocs (Maclean 83), Nagano, Clark, Holland, Bergstrom (Enderby h-t), Bernabe, Thomas (Csillag 74)
Unused subs: Kirby, Parry, Evans, Olsson, Woodham, Bonner

Referee: Sophie Dennington