ReactionLeanne Kiernan: Hat-trick felt amazing, I'm confident for next season

The striker came off the bench and netted three times during the second half as the Reds delivered a 4-0 win over Leicester City at King Power Stadium.

“Even to score [once] for this club feels amazing,” Kiernan told Liverpoolfc.com post-match.

“It’s always nice to be in the WSL again and scoring again. I feel like I’m coming back slowly but surely, I’m getting back to myself and I’m feeling really confident for next season.”

Sophie Roman Haug’s header early on gave Liverpool the platform of a half-time lead that Kiernan’s treble built on in Leicester.

It was a fourth consecutive WSL victory for Matt Beard’s side – and third clean sheet in that run – who thereby secured a fourth-placed finish.

“The girls have done brilliant first half. Second half, I got in front of the goal a few times and it was nice to see the goals go in,” said Kiernan.

“The girls have been brilliant, without them putting it on a plate for me a lot of the time, I wouldn’t be getting my goals. I really appreciate them.”

The 25-year-old continued: “Every girl, no matter if they were on the pitch or not, this squad is a brilliant squad. I feel like everybody trusts each other.

“We have great characters in the squad and I feel like we really deserve it this year, we have worked hard. It’s been brilliant.”

Liverpool were, as always, backed by a strong travelling crowd at King Power Stadium, with the win providing a neat bookend to a campaign that began with a 1-0 success at Emirates Stadium in October.

And Kiernan stressed the important influence the team’s fans have on them.

She said: “We wouldn’t be where we are in the league without them, they have been brilliant all year round.

“Every game, no matter what the weather is, they are here to support us. And we know that. The crowd, at Prenton Park, away fans, everything, they have been brilliant this year and it makes a massive difference.

“I don’t know if they even realise how nice it is when you turn to the crowd and they’re all there, and celebrating with them. It’s brilliant.”

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