18 hours ago
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Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Matt Beard gave an update on the team ahead of their first league match of 2025.
Liverpool FC Women are currently in 8th place in the Barclays Women’s Super League, level on points with Aston Villa and only a point above Everton in 9th. Which is to say, they’ve got a mountain to climb if they want to take what’s felt like a bit of a listless season and turn it into something special.
That summit push, then, begins in earnest with their tilt against Brighton & Hove Albion later today. The Reds will host the Seagulls at St. Mary’s for a Friday evening that the crew will all be looking at as a great chance for the team to build their turnaround hopes upon.
Ahead of the clash, manager Matt Beard spoke to the press and gave some updates on the team selection. Of note is that forward Sophie Roman Haug will not be available - along with defender Jasmine Matthews and captain Niamh Fahey - for the match after suffering a minor setback in her recovery. Beard did note, though, that he would be able to draw on new loanees Sam Kerr and Julia Bartel, though with the latter, stressed that minutes would still need to be managed for the latter as the midfielder had previously found playing time hard to find at Chelsea.
All told, the gaffer felt in good spirits given the health of the squad.
“The players are champing at the bit and I think this is the first time all year that I’ve had 20 or 21 outfield players available for training and that’s still with Jas, Sophie and Niamh Fahey out. What that does, it creates competition, it raises the standards in training.”
With the Reds having had to deal with so many injuries, it’s clear the manager is feeling much better. Here’s hoping a healthier squad can help salvage something out of this season, starting first by dispatching Brighton.
