Chelsea shrugged aside the attention surrounding Emma Hayes’ plans to leave the club by winning 3-0 at Everton to retain control at the top of the Women’s Super League.

Jessie Fleming’s opener was followed by goals from Sam Kerr and former Everton loanee Aggie Beever-Jones, securing victory over a spirited home side who caused the champions plenty of first-half problems.

The London side were playing for the first time since the announcement last weekend that Hayes will step down at the end of the season after 12 years as manager.

While they were guilty at times of sloppiness in their passing out from the back in the opening 45 minutes, they had the quality and professionalism required to get the job done.

Everton, showing seven changes to the team beaten 7-0 by Manchester United in the League Cup on Thursday, had the game’s first clear chance with just 75 seconds gone.

Martina Piemonte’s lay-off sent Heather Payne in on goal from the right, with her cross-shot beaten away by keeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

But Chelsea recovered their composure and were in front in the 14th minute.

Australia forward Kerr, rested for last weekend’s 6-0 win at Aston Villa, jumped to meet Sjoeke Nusken’s angled chip to the far post, and as Everton struggled to clear, Fleming cushioned a side-foot volley into the corner of the net.

Erin Cuthbert almost doubled the visitors’ lead a couple of minutes later, with a 25-yard shot that goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan did well to push over.

Everton began to grow in confidence after that, though, with Justine Vanhaevermaet getting a flick to Payne’s low ball in from the right and forcing Berger to gather.

Chelsea’s German goalkeeper then saved them again as Millie Bright miskicked from a throw-in back to her from team-mate Niamh Charles, leaving Piemonte one-on-one, but Berger held the Italy striker’s low shot.

Charles blocked well from Payne after Nicoline Sorensen had got down the right to set up the chance, before Everton had a goal ruled out as half-time neared.

Payne cut back from the right for Sara Holmgaard to shoot, Berger saved and the ball ran loose for Vanhaevermaet to bundle in, but the Belgium midfielder was flagged offside.

Chelsea withstood the pressure and responded at the start of the second half, with Cuthbert thumping a rising 20-yard shot against the bar after Kerr had been crowded out inside the penalty area.

They did, however, get a second goal in the 62nd minute, a sweeping move ending with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd crossing from the right and Kerr thumping in first time at the near post.

Substitute Lauren James drove just wide as the visitors chased a third, with Fran Kirby playing in fellow substitute Beever-Jones to drive a shot across goal in the closing minutes.

And in the 90th minute, Beever-Jones cut in from the right and steered a lovely shot past Brosnan and into the top corner to seal the triumph.