ColumnMatt Beard on Everton and United tests, excellent Lucy Parry and more

It goes without saying it was a disappointing performance from us against Bristol City and it was a very frustrating day.

I need to have a look at how big an effect the international break has on us and look at a few things, because we seem to be a little bit lacklustre after the internationals.

We were below par, which was disappointing. We just didn’t move the ball quick enough or play around teams quickly, just little things like that which we’ve been really good at this season. We were taking an extra touch, and we weren’t breaking the lines quick enough.

We just didn’t get enough bodies forward or have enough bodies in the box to support our attacks. Our goal came from a cross, and Bristol City concede a lot of goals from crosses, but we just didn’t do that enough, which was frustrating.

Listen, you get good days and you get bad days. If I look back on Sunday, we didn’t lose the game so that’s definitely a positive to take.

Sometimes you do have to credit the opposition for maybe not allowing you to do what you wanted to do, but I just feel we could have done if we had moved the ball quicker.

If you compare where we are this season to when we first got back into the WSL then we are in a good place.

Do I think we should have won the game? I think yes, especially at home considering how well we have done at Prenton Park, but it was just one of those days when numerous things just didn’t come off for us.

Teagan Micah did well for us and made an excellent save in the second half. I know Abi Harrison well from my time with her at Bristol City and she is a great finisher. She caused us problems and was the best player on the pitch.

• Get your tickets for tonight's Continental League Cup tie against Everton here

I was pleased with the impact the players coming off the bench had for us. Pazza [Lucy Parry] has been good going forward for us. We have to be careful with Emma Koivisto because she came back off the last international camp with a tight hamstring, so we have to manage that situation.

Pazza has been excellent and she is knocking on the door now. If you look at her displays in the Continental League Cup, they have been fantastic and when she has come on the pitch she has had an impact, especially going forward. It’s great to see at such a young age.

I thought Mel Lawley changed the game for us, she is different to the wingers we have as she runs at players and gets in the pockets and is difficult to play against, and I’ve also been really impressed with Leanne Kiernan, who is getting stronger. She has been excellent.

Tonight we face Everton at Walton Hall Park in our final group game in the Continental League Cup (kick-off 7pm GMT).

Obviously we go to Manchester United on Sunday in the WSL so I’ve got to manage the minutes carefully after the international break and players will get opportunities tonight.

Unfortunately, Miri Taylor will be suspended because she has picked up two yellow cards in this competition and obviously Jasmine Matthews (hamstring) and Mia Enderby (concussion) are still unavailable, and we will make a late check on Natasha Flint. She rolled her ankle in training on Saturday and that’s why she was unavailable for Bristol City.

Looking at Fuka Nagano I think she needs a rest as she has been in Brazil playing for Japan, so Missy Bo Kearns will start, Pazza will play, Sofie Lundgaard will get a chance, Leanne is ready for a start and Niamh Fahey will also get minutes.

Because we do have good strength in depth now, I have told the players they have to be playing at their highest level week in, week out.

Obviously Everton are our biggest rivals and we are looking forward to the derby. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game earlier this season against Everton at Anfield. We had a perfectly good goal disallowed when Missy Bo scored and that changed the game.

On Sunday we play our final game of the year when we travel to Manchester United (kick-off 12.15pm GMT at Leigh Sports Village).

They are a top side. We have bad memories of the away game to United last season and we can’t have a repeat of that because that was one of my most frustrating days in football if I’m being honest with you.

It’s going to be a tough game, they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 on Sunday and they are scoring goals at the moment and not conceding many either.

We are definitely going to have to be at our best and we can’t perform like we did against Bristol City, but from my end we’ve got a good squad here and we want to finish the year with a good result and we are playing two of our biggest rivals in the space of four days.

As always we will give it everything we have got to try to make you proud.

Thank you for your continued support.

YNWA,

Matt

Matt Beard was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com's Steve Hunter