Ceri Holland has spoken of her excitement at being able to play at Anfield this weekend - and opened up on the positive mindset Matt Beard has instilled in her side.
The game against Everton on Sunday will be the first time the Reds' Women’s team have played a Barclays Women’s Super League match at Anfield since November 2019. Everton were also the opposition on that occasion.
Lucy Graham struck the only goal of the game on that occasion to give the Blues bragging rights. However, ahead of this weekend’s game, the picture looks very different.
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Two second-half penalties from Katie Stengel earned Liverpool a shock 2-1 win over title holders Chelsea on their WSL return in front of a record-breaking crowd at Prenton Park last weekend, while Everton were beaten 1-0 by West Ham United in their first game of the campaign on the same day.
“We are really excited and it is a dream come true as a Liverpool player and I think we are really looking forward to getting back on the pitch after such a positive start last Sunday,” Holland told the ECHO ahead of Sunday’s game.
“It is a massive and historic game for the city and I think I have realised living here for over a year now just how big of a game it is and how passionate people are about it.
“Beardy [Matt Beard] keeps us very, very grounded and as a squad we are very grounded. We know in this league we will have ups and downs.
"We have had a great start, but we know how competitive it is going to be. We will have hard times as well. Obviously, we are on a high right now, but we are very grounded and excited for the weekend.
“Beardy has put a belief into us as a squad that we can compete in this league and I think we showed that first hand last weekend."
“It was a massive, massive game. Chelsea are a world class team, but we want to be competitive in this league and I think we made that statement on Sunday night," Holland, a Wales international, continued.
“We had a game plan and frustrated Chelsea and that was credit to the girls, who stuck to the game plan. But credit to the staff as well for the way they set us up. We have gone in and frustrated one of the best teams in the world and managed to come away with a win against the champions.”
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the cancellation of matches, Liverpool weren’t afforded the opportunity to play their way to safety in the WSL as the final standings for the 2019/20 season were decided on a points-per-game basis. However, just one win in 14 league games painted an agonising picture for the Reds and showed the reality of where they were as a team.
However, Liverpool returned to the top-flight at the second time of asking, securing the title with two games to go last season. And Holland believes Liverpool’s return to the WSL sees the club back where they belong.
"We worked so hard last year and it was a real graft from everybody. The staff, the players and we are back where we belong now," she said.
“We are such a big club and we needed to be back in this league. Chelsea last weekend was a massive game, Everton this weekend, we have had quite the start.
“It is a massive club, a global club and we need to be in the top league. We need to be competing for trophies as well as the men. We are back where we belong.”
A crowd of 23,500 turned out at the last Women’s Merseyside derby played at Anfield, with Liverpool hoping to attract even more spectators this time round. Supporters are advised that tickets for the game are available online until 4pm on Friday.
It was recently revealed that TV audiences for women's sports have doubled from 2021 to 2022. Football was responsible for 72% of the women's sport audiences between the specified period, and Holland is hoping that the Reds can cash in on the support shown towards Sarina Wiegman’s side over the summer.
“We are on course for a really good crowd, and I think in the summer, women’s football went mad,” she replied when asked about the prospect of another bumper gate at Anfield.
“I don’t think anyone quite appreciated how mad it went. It is really exciting to be a player and there has probably never been a more exciting time to be involved.”
LFC Women return to action at Anfield on Sunday against Everton in the Merseyside derby. Tickets are on sale here, starting at just £1 for children.
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