Women’s Super League: Chelsea v Liverpool game abandoned after six minutes

Chelsea’s Women’s Super League match at home to Liverpool was abandoned after six minutes on Sunday as players repeatedly slipped on the frozen pitch.

But referee Paul Howard swiftly stopped the action, deeming the conditions too dangerous to play on.

“The game should never have started. We have to put player safety first,” said Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.

Ground staff had used covers and heat blowers to thaw the pitch in Kingston upon Thames, but Howard said too many slips had happened in the opening moments of the game for it to continue safely.

Some visiting fans had set off at 5am to see their side take on the WSL leaders in the first game of the day.