InterviewMarie Höbinger on life at Liverpool: 'I feel really at home here'

At 22, Merseyside is the third place she has called home in her footballing career, having graduated from the 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam academy in Germany - who she joined aged just 13 - ahead of a spell in Switzerland with FC Zurich Frauen.

Höbinger's arrival at the Reds earlier in the summer has bolstered Matt Beard's ranks, with the No.14 one of six new signings to date, bringing a wealth of experience with her despite her young years.

Her CV includes representing Austria at international level, featuring in the Champions League and lifting league and cup titles in Switzerland.

"I had to be very independent from a young age and I think that really helped me develop and grow as a person," Höbinger told Liverpoolfc.com.

"I'm used to being on my own. Things like cooking and doing my own clothes is something I'm used to. Every single time it is challenging to be at a new club in new surroundings and adapt."

Her teammates, though, are already heavily involved in helping her make the transition to life in Liverpool, welcoming her into the group with open arms.

"The girls are amazing," Höbinger added. "I really like being around them and they really take care of me. They look out for me, and I think that's also really important when you're in a new club and city.

"Thankfully, they are the best tour guides and have shown me some parts of the city that I hadn't previously seen. Socially I feel really at home here already because of them.

"I think my teammates have a big impact on how I train and play as they're really open. I can always ask them questions about anything football-wise and private stuff in my life. They have helped me in every situation."

LFC Women's pre-season has seen them take part in the AMOS Women's French Cup this week, and preparations are continuing ahead of next month's Barclays Women's Super League kick-off.

Höbinger explained upon her arrival in July that the WSL was a huge lure, though her experience with Austria at Women's Euro 2022 also played a crucial part.

"I think that's something that really makes England even more special at the moment," she continued.

"Everyone here is really football crazy and that's why the league is also so competitive, so good and also attractive for foreign players.

"I think it's great that the women's football is growing so fast, and the Euros were a really special event. I've never seen women's football [like that], how the people were cheering for the teams [and] knew the players."

Höbinger learned her trade by playing in the back garden with older brother Lukas, before taking her first steps towards becoming a professional footballer by moving away.

Family is never far from her thoughts, however, and it will be the same again when she takes to the pitch for the Reds across 2023-24.

"I really fell in love with the game quite early and I knew that I wanted to do that for the rest of my life or as long as it was possible," she said.

"My family is really supporting me all the time, which is so nice. They're really trying to watch every single minute I play; that helps me a lot. They [come] to the stadiums to be present for me and yeah, I think that's the nicest thing.

"That's my biggest aim, to make my family proud, and I love that they can see me play and it motivates me a lot."