The plan
It has been a topsy-turvy ride for Liverpool and their loyal fans over the past few years. The waning of the club’s support for its women’s side was stark as they struggled to keep pace with the rest. Brighter times have arrived, however, with the women’s team again among the club’s priorities. They are back in the top flight after two seasons away.
The image of Niamh Fahey doing the “Henderson shuffle” as she lifted the Championship trophy in May will live long in Liverpool fans’ minds. Galvanised under their manager, Matt Beard, theteam essentially cruised to the title, finishing a notoriously competitive league 11 points clear. It was a feat that earned them deserved plaudits and a place on the Liverpool celebration parade.
Beard’s recruitment in his first season was exemplary, bringing in skilled players to add depth to his squad. His transfer business this time around has also caught the eye as he prepares his side for the challenges of the WSL. Gilly Flaherty, captain during his tenure at West Ham, is among the signings. A Super League original, the no-nonsense defender brings a decade of experience in the top division. The promising Scottish goalkeeper Eartha Cumings has also joined the defensive ranks and Finland’s Emma Koivisto provides depth at full-back having impressed at Brighton.
Beard has brought in only one player in attack, where he has plenty of options. A familiar face has returned in Shanice van de Sanden, bringing pace and more expertise to his forward line.
The jump to the top division will be difficult for Beard and his players to handle but the familiarity of the squad with the league could prove crucial. They have enjoyed a fruitful pre-season, including a 5-0 defeat of West Ham, and will feel that an opening trip to Reading will be a perfect opportunity to get three points on the board.
The manager
They often say you should never go back, but in Beard’s case this could not be further from the truth. Since his return in the summer of 2021 to the club he left in 2015 for a coaching job in the US and then three years at West Ham, he has been the perfect antidote to the club’s problems, bringing team unity and reinvigorating the fanbase. Defensively solid, his side employed wing-backs effectively last season to support the defence and attack. When in sync, the forward line is electric, with 49 goals registered last season.
Key player
Leanne Kiernan found scintillating form last season, putting her injury woes behind her. The Republic of Ireland forward scored 13 goals, just missing out on the golden boot. She can be utilised both as a No 9 and on the flanks and Beard has praised her work rate and mentality. The 23-year-old will be looking to put to bed a difficult three-year spell at West Ham that was hampered by fitness issues, and prove that the WSL is where she belongs.
Big summer signing
Van de Sanden’s signing caught the eye. A pacy and charismatic winger, the Netherlands international returns from Wolfsburg to Liverpool, where she had a two-season spell from 2016. Since then she has become a triple Champions League winner and a European champion with her country. Her career, however, has recently stalled a little as she found herself on the bench at Wolfsburg and left out of the Dutch Euro 2022 squad. She will be looking to put that right and hit the ground running in familiar surroundings.
Euro 2022 delight/heartache
It was not the best of summers for Liverpool’s European stars. Koivisto played all three games for Finland as they crashed out at the group stage. Rachel Furness made history as she played a talismanic role in Northern Ireland’s inaugural appearance in a major tournament but they also did not progress through to the latter stages, with three defeats in Group A.
Bring on the crowds
Liverpool have been putting in work to activate their fanbase. A 10% discount on season tickets has seen sales treble compared with last year. The relationship with the Liverpool FC Women Supporters Club is strong: it has a seat on the club’s Supporters Board that was announced in August. Meanwhile, girls’ soccer camps have been led by the LFC Foundation throughout the summer, with several players visiting. This will continue throughout the season. The club are paying for a coach to take their fans to Reading for their opening fixture and the Merseyside derby at Anfield on 25 September is a key focus.
