Why Sam Kerr has a way of getting under Mary Earps’ skin ... and over her head

England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps is good. We’re talking the best stopper in Europe good.

She was crowned Best Women’s Goalkeeper 2022 in February at the FIFA awards, after keeping 10 clean sheets in 22 Women’s Super League matches for Manchester United last season, and last year was lauded for helping the Lionesses win the European championship.

Sam Kerr, playing for Chelsea, celebrates after getting past Manchester United (and England) keeper Mary Earps to score at Wembley Stadium three months ago. Credit: Getty

At this Women’s World Cup, she has kept three clean sheets in five games. The first two were against Haiti and Denmark in the group stage and then against Nigeria in the round of 16, a game that went to penalties after Earps had a number of close saves in regular time and stood up in the shootout.

But there is one player who has a history of putting balls past her – well, chipping them past and over her to be precise – and getting under her skin. A player that so consistently scores against her when others can’t that it feels fitting to call her Earps’ nemesis.

Enter, Sam Kerr.

Let’s go back to April when England and Australia last met in a friendly on a cold, rainy day at Brentford Community Stadium in west London. The Lionesses were on a 30-game winning streak and had never conceded a defeat under coach Sarina Wiegman. They had not had more than two goals scored against them in two years.

Sam Kerr scores earlier this year for Australia, getting the ball past England keeper Mary Earps.Credit: Twitter

Kerr put an end to that. Thirty minutes into the opening half, centre-back Clare Hunt unloaded a long ball which England captain Leah Williamson headed awkwardly behind her. Earps ran out to collect it but Kerr beat her to it and chipped it over her knee. It floated into the net.

In the second half, Kerr found herself on a break on the right wing. She crossed the ball to defender Charli Grant making a late run, who headed it in to score her debut goal for the Matildas. Australia won 2-0.

Two weeks later Kerr, playing for Chelsea, and Earps, playing for United, met again in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

In front of a record crowd of 77,390 fans, Kerr drove home a goal at the 68th minute after a pinpoint pass from teammate Pernille Harder. Chelsea won 1-0 and secured their third successive FA Cup.

Kerr also scored in Chelsea’s two WSL wins over United during the season and even when they weren’t meeting on a pitch, Kerr was a thorn in Earp’s side.

On the final day of the WSL season, Kerr scored two goals in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Reading to pip rivals United and claim the Blues’ fourth consecutive title, denying Earps’ side top spot.

When Earps won the illustrious best goalie award earlier this year, former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis told FIFA:“Mary fits what [England head coach] Sarina Wiegman needs for a goalkeeper.

“She’s very consistent, very vocal and she dominates and organises her backline. She’s now the best version of Mary Earps that anyone has ever seen.”

But if you want talk consistency, consider the fact that for three consecutive years in the WSL, Kerr has put balls past Earps almost every time they’ve met.

If you Google their names together, the first thing to pop up is a YouTube video by Umwatch II titled “Mary Earps Really Hates Sam Kerr”, which features 11 goals scored by Kerr on Earps and three crucial assists.

Another chapter of their rivalry will be written on Wednesday night when the Matildas and Lionesses face off in a World Cup semi-final at Stadium Australia.

Kerr, having missed Australia’s group stage with a calf injury and on managed minutes for the Denmark and France knockout games, is yet to have a starring match in the Women’s World Cup.

That could change on Wednesday night. The stage is set for it. Europe’s best goalkeeper against Australia’s – arguably the world’s – best striker.

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