Programme notes'This afternoon will certainly be an interesting game'

The Reds are out to produce a response to their last WSL fixture, which ended in a 5-1 defeat away at Chelsea last weekend, back at Prenton Park for a 2pm GMT kick-off.

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Assessing the challenge in store, in his matchday programme notes Beard writes: "This afternoon we face a Brighton & Hove Albion team who remind me a lot of ourselves in the stage of development that they're at.

"Brighton are ambitious and you can see that they've had a big turnover of players in the summer. Their manager, Melissa Phillips, went in at the back end of last season and they've had a lot of change in personnel since.

"They have been playing one or two different ways as well so it's going to take them a little bit of time to get to where they want to be, but I've been impressed with their progress.

"They're organised and dangerous, especially on set-plays. I think Mel's done a great job since taking over and while it will naturally take time for a new-look team to gel, like us they'll be pleased with the start that they've had, especially after the challenges that we both had last year. All those things considered, it certainly makes for an interesting game this afternoon.

"Before today's game the club will formally recognise Gemma Bonner's achievement of becoming Liverpool FC Women's record appearance maker in the WSL era.

"Gemma's family will be in attendance and I'm so glad that her mum can be here with us. It's a great achievement and hopefully we can celebrate it with three points for Gem."

Beard continues: "We are hoping to have Shanice van de Sanden available again today after she missed the Continental League Cup game on Wednesday to spend time with her new-born daughter.

"Everyone here is absolutely thrilled for her. Shan's definitely a character within the group. Even when she wasn't playing she was vocal and showed her leadership qualities.

"When you look back at our last league game at Prenton Park, against Leicester City, you could see the lift it gave players and fans when she came on and she made a really big impact that day.

"I gave her a first league start of the season at Chelsea last weekend and we've been pleased that Shan's managed to keep herself fit. Obviously we're going to take it step by step but we're really pleased with where she is and the great thing is that she's still finding her feet again.

"It's going to take her a bit of time to get fully match-fit and up to those 90-minute performances but we're really pleased with how she's doing and how she's progressing."

Niamh Fahey made her own return from an injury issue when she featured for 45 minutes of the midweek 1-0 defeat against Manchester United in the Continental League Cup.

In her programme notes, the captain says of the clash with Brighton: "Like any game in this league, we'll have to be at our best in order to pick up points. As I always say, though, it's all about us and how we perform.

"I felt we were much better in midweek against Manchester United in the Continental League Cup. Although it's always disappointing to lose a game, we were competitive against a top team and probably unfortunate not to come away with at least a draw.

"The pleasing thing from Matt's point of view was that he was also able to rotate and get some important minutes into several players' legs, including my own!

"It was great to be back out on the pitch with the girls and now it's about building up my match fitness."

Fahey adds of the homage planned for fellow defender Bonner: "I feel as though we're running out of superlatives really when it comes to Gemma and what she has done in her career and is still doing for us this season.

"She has been putting in performances week in and week out and showing what a true leader she is. It's fantastic for us senior players to have her with us and fantastic for all the younger players to have someone like Gemma at Liverpool.

"The presentation before the game will be a massive recognition of her achievements as a top player, a top professional and a top person."

• Pick up your copy of the matchday programme at Prenton Park this afternoon