Sonia Bompastor's side opened the scoring after just six minutes, as a well-worked move ended with a typically clinical Kerr finish. Yet Everton quickly responded, Yuka Momiki scoring a fine effort from distance, and the game was level at the interval.

The Blues had work to do in the second period, and we wasted little time in getting it done. Kerr struck her second of the game - and a record-equalling 63rd in the WSL for Chelsea - moments after the restart and Ellie Carpenter then grabbed our third.

With 20 minutes remaining, Erin Cuthbert drilled home a shot from inside the box to make it four, before the Blues saw out the game to take another important step towards qualifying for the UEFA Women's Champions League next season.

Early goals

Bompastor made two alterations to her starting XI, bringing Lucy Bronze and Veerle Buurman into the defence, in place of Kadeisha Buchanan and Naomi Girma.

The Blues started brightly, with Alyssa Thompson and Carpenter combining well down the right. Yet our opener, scored after just six minutes, came through the middle.

After collecting the ball in midfield, Lauren James danced her way into space and found Cuthbert. The Scotland international played the ball through to Kerr, and the striker finished low into the bottom corner.

Our lead didn't last long, though. Receiving the ball in space 30 yards from goal, Momiki looped a quality strike over Hannah Hampton and into the top corner.

Pushing hard

As the half progressed, we began to regain control and created further chances to score. The first came from a long ball forward from James as she sought out Kerr, but the striker had her shot charged down by an Everton defender.

Thompson then took the chance to fire an effort at goal as she spotted an opportunity from a tight angle, but her attempt went over the bar.

The Blues were building pressure, though, and Keira Walsh took a shot from distance following a Chelsea corner. While the attempt was powerful, Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was able to collect.

Walsh then had another go from distance. While Brosnan saved the shot once again, the midfielder was in the mood to cause problems for the Everton stopper. James had her shot from the edge of the penalty area blocked and Nusken had an effort saved just before the break, so the sides went in at half-time all square.

Taking control

The home side went close straight from the kick off as Carpenter did just enough to prevent Mayumi Pachecho from heading in at the far post, but then Chelsea seized our opportunity in the transition.

A through-ball from James picked out Kerr perfectly, and the Australian slotted home her club-record-equalling strike to put us 2-1 in front. She could've had her hat-trick soon afterwards, too. One shot went just wide before she was flagged offside with a second attempt in quick succession, but it mattered little as her compatriot Carpenter soon weighed in with a goal of her own.

Thompson received the ball on the right wing and played a square ball low and hard across the box. Carpenter took a second to make sure the ball was fully under control, before chipping her finish over Brosnan. The advantage was firmly with the Blues.

Securing the win

The second half had seen wave after wave of Chelsea attacks and captain Cuthbert pounced on the opportunity to score her first WSL goal since September with a strong finish on the rebound from a blocked Kerr shot.

Everton rallied in the final stages and crafted a couple of opportunities to score. Still, the Chelsea defence held firm, and substitute Chloe Sarwie contributed with two key defensive interventions, as the 17-year-old impressed once again.

After a shaky start, this was an assured performance from Chelsea and, combined with Manchester United's 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues took a big step towards qualification for next year's Champions League.

What it means...

We remain in second place in the WSL table and are now four points clear of Manchester United.

What comes next...

We will travel to Leicester City in the Women's Super League on Sunday 3 May.

The teams

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Hampton; Carpenter, Bronze, Buurman (Sarwie 78), Charles (Buchanan 60); Walsh (Potter 71); James (Baltimore 71), Nusken, Cuthbert (c), Thompson (Rytting Kaneryd 60); Kerr
Unused subs: Spencer, Peng, Shooter
Scorers: Kerr 6, 47, Carpenter 53, Cuthbert 70
Booked: Charles 44

Everton (4-4-2): Brosnan (c), Blundell, Fernandez, Wheeler, Payne, Gago, Vignola (Snoeijs 78), Galli (Hayashi 68), Stenevik, Momiki (Harbert 85), Pacheco
Unused subs: Ramsey, Kramzar, Jones
Scorer: Momiki 10
Booked: Stenevik 87

Referee: Ross Martin