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Sam Kerr's love affair with the FA Cup has blossomed again, with the Matildas' superstar firing another consummate hat-trick to blast Chelsea into the fifth round.
- Sam Kerr's Blues never trailed as she scored all their goals in a 3-2 win over Liverpool
- Chelsea have won the past two FA Cup finals
- Fellow Australian Caitlin Foord also netted a goal for Arsenal in a 9-0 win over Leeds
On a day when fellow Matildas player Caitlin Foord also got on the Cup scoreboard for goal-happy Arsenal, Kerr's treble on her favourite home patch at Kingsmeadow sank fellow Women's Super League side Liverpool 3-2 and took her tally for the season in 16 goals in all competitions.
The 29-year-old maestro appears to be rediscovering some of her sharpest form in the new year, having scored all three matches since the start of 2023, including her double that helped knock Spurs out of the League Cup in midweek.
But, ominously for Chelsea's opponents, Kerr said she still had much to improve upon in her game after her strikes in the 32nd, 52nd and 79th minute on Monday morning AEDT maintained her remarkable record in the English women's game's major Cup competition.
She scored twice in last season's final as Chelsea beat Manchester City, only reprising her double in the showdown of the 2020-21 competition against Arsenal at Wembley.
"There's plenty that needs improvement," the Golden Boot-winning perfectionist said.
"I wish I could do this every week, but that's a striker's life, right — sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't.
"But, when my teammates are putting in balls like they did today, it's pretty easy for me to score."
She was indeed set up excellently for her treble, with fullback Niamh Charles sending over the cross from which she volleyed home a stunning first-half opener and then her trusty provider Frank Kirby teed her up to slot home their second after the break.
Liverpool hit back with a thunderous strike from Ceri Holland before Kerr made it 3-1 with a trademark close-range header from another Charles delivery, and the breathing space was needed as Liverpool again hit back with a late Gemma Bonner goal.
Asked why she enjoyed scoring at Chelsea's modest Kingsmeadow home so much, Kerr shrugged: "I don't know … because I live nine minutes away, can sleep in my own bed, eat my own food. I just like being at home, playing in front our amazing fans. There's something nice about Kingsmeadow."
Meanwhile, Foord kicked off a goal rush for WSL giants Arsenal against lower-league side Leeds, netting from close range in the 10th minute to set them on their way to a 9-0 win.
AAP