NewsGemma Bonner previews Man City clash: 'We've shown many times we can compete'
Matt Beard's squad return to Barclays Women's Super League action on Sunday afternoon, hosting City in L4 with kick-off set for 3pm BST.
Bonner – who helped Liverpool to a first WSL win of the campaign last weekend at Tottenham Hotspur – spoke to Liverpoolfc.com to preview the highly anticipated encounter.
Read on for the full interview with the No.23…
On the challenge of Manchester City bringing out the 'very best' of the Reds squad...
I hope so. We're coming off the back of a strong year last year. I think coming into the season we've probably had a little bit of a slower start than we wanted, but what bigger game than playing at Anfield and playing against City? Hopefully we get a huge crowd behind us to come and support us. We're very much looking forward to it.
On City being a strong opponent across the pitch...
They are. They are a top side. I think they were unlucky to miss out on the league title last year, but we know the quality they possess right throughout the squad no matter who plays. Obviously they've had a tough game midweek [against Barcelona]. There's no denying they've got quality players, but I think on the flip of that having a game so soon afterwards we'd hopefully look to take advantage of that and make sure that we're ready and we come out on the front foot, like we started the game last week [at Tottenham] as well.
On looking to take advantage of City playing in midweek...
I know a lot of the girls within the squad. I know the adrenaline will have been high and obviously they're professional enough to know that it's another huge game against us. I think we know within our squad that we've got the potential to hurt [them] and go and get the three points. But I think we have to be prepared and almost go into it knowing we've probably got that extra little bit of freshness within us and try to use that to our advantage.
On what the build-up is like for her knowing a lot of City players...
I spoke to a couple of the girls before the Champions League game wishing them good luck. But I think now once the game comes around, we're obviously focused on our teams. We know we have a job to do and I think with the league we all know it's so close and so competitive – every point matters essentially. I think for them, as much as they'll be on a high from the midweek win, they know that the league is just as important, if not more important for them to make sure they turn up on Sunday.
I think for us going into it we know the quality, we have to respect that, but at the same time we can't be fearful of it. We've shown many times we can compete with the top teams. I think we have to learn a lot from the games we had against them last year coming into this. I think we'll be prepared come Sunday.
On trying to neutralise City's threat as a defender...
I think it's probably not just as a defender but as a whole team. We have to be tight, we have to be compact and we know they want to possess the ball and play through. I think our strength is as a group and when we attack together, we defend together as well. I think that's something we've definitely been strong in over the past couple of years. I think it's about managing that. Obviously we're playing at Anfield, it's a big stage, but hopefully this year we've got a lot more experience within the group.
We're still a young group and it's about managing those moments. It's about when we can go and exploit them and attack them because we will get chances. We've shown that even though we've been on the wrong end of the results, we've shown we still get chances against them. It's probably about managing those moments and when we do go make sure we go and make them count, but at the same time we have to be clever and manage the spaces and the time to try to nullify the players that they do have.
On the mood in the camp ahead of the game...
I think it was a big three points for us [last weekend]. We're all absolutely devastated for Sofie [Lundgaard] and she knows she has our full support behind her. It was a devastating injury to happen so early in the game and she'd been doing so well. I think it probably brought the group a lot closer together in terms of having to show a lot of character and grind out the win in the manner that we did. Of course, there's always things that we can improve on from the game, but I think for us as a group to get the three points away at Spurs – it's a difficult place to go – but it definitely stands us in a good position coming into the weekend.
On playing at Anfield...
For me as a Liverpool fan playing out at Anfield, it's what you dream of. But for me especially, I want to win there. It's great playing there, but I want to win every single game and I want to win. That's what Liverpool FC does – you expect to win games.
On the determination to give a good account of themselves at Anfield...
I think there are so many games now that are played in the so-called big stadiums – the men's stadiums. So, I think that experience within the group probably helped settle the nerves a little bit more when you're preparing for the game. I think for us everyone in the group knows how much it means to us. We're all looking forward to playing there. I know last year we had a great fan following behind us and hopefully again this year. There's going to be times in the game we might need them, but hopefully we come out on the right end of the result come Sunday.