When Matt Beard returned to Liverpool last summer, the last thing he would have expected to end the season would be partying with world-renowned DJ Calvin Harris.
But that is just what the legendary Liverpool Women’s manager did after he guided the Reds to the Championship title. Beard’s side joined Jurgen Klopp’s team on their parade of the city after the mens' cup double last season in what was a superb and uplifting day for the Anfield faithful. Harris was the resident DJ on the parade and later described it as 'the most unreal experience of my life'.
This was the least Beard’s side deserved after a spectacular campaign which culminated in a return to the Women’s Super League after a two-year absence when they were relegated on a points per game basis during the Covid-impacted 2019/20 season.
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The Reds finished 11 points clear of nearest challengers London City Lionesses, scoring 49 goals and conceding just 11 in 22 games. Promotion was secured with two games to spare as they defeated Bristol City 4-2 on the road after a disappointing third place finish in 2020/21.
Beard was in charge of the club between 2012-2015 and arguably oversaw the most successful period in their history. They won back-to-back WSLs in 2013 and 2014 - the only two times Liverpool have been champions of England.
The impact of the 44-year-old was clear to see and he was awarded FA Women’s Championship Manager of the Year. After losing their first game to London City, the Reds went on a 20-match unbeaten run before they lost their final game of the season to Lewes. Speaking at the end of the campaign, captain Niamh Fahey told the ECHO: “A key part of the turnaround has been Matt coming in and revitalising the squad. He’s brought belief back. He’s been at Liverpool and won titles before and he’s come in and got us over the line.”
Goalkeeper Rachel Laws won the division’s Golden Glove award with 13 clean sheets, while top scorer Leanne Kiernan was voted the club’s Player of the Season after 13 goals.
Following the conclusion of the campaign, which included a parade of the trophy around Anfield during Liverpool's Premier League fixture against Tottenham and a trophy lift after the final home game at Prenton Park against Sheffield United, Beard reflected on a memorable campaign.
“What a fantastic year it has been,” Beard told his Liverpoolfc.com column. “The girls deserve so much credit for what they have achieved. But it’s a fantastic achievement and the players have been absolutely spot on, the staff as well.
“This is not an easy league to get out of and to do it the way that we did it has been the most pleasure and I’m so proud of everyone. I am confident we can hold our own next season. There is a lot of work we need to do in the off-season to make sure we get the team prepared but we have got a really good group of players here, as well as a really good group of people.”
The squad returned to pre-season training on Tuesday as preparations ramped up with the WSL fixtures released the same day. They include a mouthwatering Merseyside derby against Everton Women, the first in more than two years scheduled on the weekend of 24-25 September, and a final day visit of Manchester United.
Beard spoke about needing to add quality and experience to the squad, preferably from the WSL and international stage and this has been followed through. Finnish international Emma Koivisto arrived from Brighton while experienced WSL campaigner and former West Ham captain Gilly Flaherty joined from West Ham, having won the WSL four times during earlier stints at Arsenal and Chelsea.
The pull of Beard is clear with Flaherty heaping praise on the Reds gaffer, who she previously played under at the Hammers. She told the club website upon signing: “I feel like in regard to my career he has been one of the managers, if not the one, that’s managed to get the best out of me. He is one of the best managers that I’ve had the pleasure to work with.”
There is definitely a buzz around the women’s team in the city at the moment, helped by the ongoing Women’s Euros. Both Koivisto [Finland] and Rachel Furness [Northern Ireland] are Reds players in action at the tournament.
As the build-up to the new season begins, Liverpool fans will be excited for the step up to a level where Beard led them so successfully previously. After the Championship title was secured, homegrown star Missy Bo Kearns outlined her aims for the season ahead. She told the ECHO: “I think everyone thinks compete. We’re Liverpool Football Club. We don't want to be known as a Championship team, we want to be at the top especially with the men doing so well and we want to be doing just as good. It might take a bit of time but we’ve got a squad capable of competing with the top opposition as we've shown that this season in the cup and I am looking forward to it.”
Beard, also speaking to the ECHO in April after the title was secured, is similarly ambitious although appreciative of the challenge that promotion will bring, and the London-born coach is delighted to be back at a club which means so much to him. Beard said: “It’s been hard to see what’s happened to the club since I’ve not been here. I had a great time in my previous spell and we settled in the area as a family. Sometimes you just fit somewhere and maybe I just fit Liverpool but I’m happy that I’m back and I’m loving working at the club again.
“The plan was to get back in the WSL. We need to consolidate because it’s a tough league but part of our plan was winning trophies and that’s not going to happen overnight - we understand that and there is a process in place to be as competitive as we can.
“We want to be as successful as we can but I'm not naive. The level of the top three in the WSL, which has been a consistent top three - there’s a massive gap with everyone else. It’s going to take us two or three transfer windows to be able to compete with those top teams but the ambition is to be there long term.”
Liverpool begin their season on September 11 with a trip to Reading before hosting Chelsea in their first home game of the season at Prenton Park on September 18.
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