6 months ago
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Liverpool Women ended their season with an emphatic 0-4 win against Leicester City on Saturday.
The seasons are ending all around, as Liverpool Women wrapped up their campaign on the road at Leicester City. Leanne Kiernan scored a hat trick of goals after Sophie Roman Haug’s header early in the first half put the Reds ahead.
With the win, Liverpool finished in fourth place in the FA WSL, their highest finish since 2017.
Matt Beard expected a difficult match coming into this one, and expressed his joy at the result to the club website after the final whistle.
“This is a tough place to come. We know that better than anyone after last year. But we looked at their record, I think they’ve won one here all season, so we knew that they were vulnerable,” Beard said.
“I think if you look at goal three and four, I think [that] summed it up. But what a great performance [and] what a great season. [It’s] an emotional day obviously saying goodbye to the ones that are going but to be able to celebrate with everyone there, [it’s been] a fantastic season. We’re really pleased.”
The club announced on Friday that four players will be departing in the summer at the expiry of their contracts, with Melissa Lawley, Emma Koivisto, Shanice van de Sanden, and Miri Taylor confirmed as the players leaving. As sad as the departures are, as every player has contributed to the season’s results, the future does look bright as Beard gave 16 year old Zara Shaw her senior debut as well.
“[Zara]’s worked incredibly hard obviously to get back on the pitch. We said before the game when we brought everyone with us today, Shanice [van de Sanden] couldn’t come... but we brought everyone with us today,” the manager explained.
“Faye Kirby as an example, [she’s] been in the gym in the morning [and] in the afternoon and in the evening trying to get back fit. Everyone has an impact one way or the other. Her determination and Zara Shaw’s determination to get back fit sums up the squad.”
In addition to the heroics of Kiernan and Roman Haug, Rachael Laws played through a broken finger to help ensure the clean sheet for the Reds on the last day.
“We tried to get an emergency loan. I think I rang every club going but for some reason clubs weren’t willing to let a goalkeeper go. Obviously Lawsy broke her finger three weeks ago and she’s played with a numb finger today in a splint,” Beard added.
“She deserves utmost credit, it shows her character. I thought her performance today was outstanding. The save from the free-kick was a fantastic save and then even the one that was flagged offside at the end. I thought she was excellent today.
“We know Sophie has got better as the season has gone on. She’s been fantastic from that side [and] we’re really pleased with just how the team has progressed. I think if you look at this month, we’ve beaten Bristol City away [with a] clean sheet. Leicester City away; clean sheet. Manchester United; clean sheet. And then obviously the epic game against Chelsea with the 4-3. We’ve had a fantastic month.”
It was Kiernan who received most of the praise on the day, after coming back from back to back injuries to return to her goal scoring best. It’s been her eye for goal and hard working mentality that the squad has missed.
“The last goal, what composure! She’s just a fantastic player. She’s getting stronger each week. You have to remember she was out for so long and to come back and have the impact she’s done has been fantastic,” the manager exclaimed.
“She’s more than just pace. Her finishing is second to none. I know better than anyone [because] I’ve seen it first-hand so many times. [At] West Ham and obviously here. I think if you look at the goal against Chelsea as well it’s the composure for the finish. We’re really, really pleased.”
All of the hard work of the season finally came to an exciting conclusion, as Liverpool cemented their spot in fourth place, with four wins out of their last five matches and 9 points away from third place Arsenal. After finishing in seventh place last season, and only their second season back in the WSL, the fourth place finish is something everyone is incredibly proud of.
“It’s a big turnaround if you look at last year. Last year we knew that we were good enough to stay in the division [and] this year was about kicking on. I just think from our end we signed a young squad, every time we had a wobble we regrouped and just got on with it. I think [it’s] the beauty of the group’s mentality, and you’ve seen it again at the end here.
On Thursday we presented Mel [Lawley], Shan and Emma [Koivisto] with their gifts. Those decisions are horrible - absolutely horrible. But we’ve got to do as a football club what’s best by the team and most importantly what’s best by them as people and players. I don’t want to see any of them go because they’re all great people but unfortunately it’s just the nature of the business.”
Now everyone is off to their well deserved summer vacations.
