ColumnMatt Beard on Leicester trip, tactical tweaks and squad strength

It was a great way for us to start 2025 with the win over Brighton and also to get our first win at St Helens Stadium in the WSL, which was important.

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I know we got our first win in the Women’s League Cup here against Everton but because of the team they put out we were expected to win that game.

I feel it has been coming. I think our performances have been OK and I think we’ve been a little bit unlucky in some of the games when we’ve hit the post or not finished the chances off.

I felt everyone had an impact last Friday night and even the players who didn’t play. I said to the girls in the dressing room before the game that we can only pick 11 and make five substitutions but the work that goes on behind the scenes with all 21, 22 players is so important and helps us prepare for the game.

I felt there was a slight tweak to our game in the way we play and build. That was better and we had bodies higher up the pitch. We have been working on that on the training ground. There’s still things we need to improve on but it’s a step in the right direction.

If I look at Brighton, they normally create a lot of chances in the games that they play and I felt we stopped them and defensively I thought we were excellent. The goal they scored was very harsh on us but overall it’s a great start to 2025.

If you look at the strength and depth we had on the bench as well, this is something we just haven’t had all season.

The standard in training the past three weeks has been fantastic and the performance was a step in the right direction. But there’s still plenty more to come and still plenty more for us to improve on and master with how we are trying to play now.

It was an excellent debut from Sam Kerr and I was really pleased with her. It has been well documented that I tried to sign her a couple of years ago. Sam can play as a holding midfielder and as a No.8. She is tenacious, she steps in and reads the game well and is a very good passer of the ball. I think she will be a great addition for us.

Julia Bartel was going to come on as well for a debut but because Hannah Silcock was cramping up, we had to change that. But her chance will definitely come.

We have got great competition now in midfield. I thought Brighton was Fuka [Nagano]’s best game in a while for us. No-one’s place in midfield now is safe and for me that’s the most important thing.

If you look at Mia Enderby’s performance off the bench, she was excellent. We just felt the way the game would finish would be better for Mia to come off the bench rather than start because Brighton are a very tactical side who move from the back, but if the game is in the balance then they start to become a bit more open.

Smithy [Olivia Smith] scored a brilliant goal and we know the talent that she is. We know we’ve got a good player there.

It was good to get Paz [Lucy Parry] back for the opening 45 minutes but we are going to have to modify her in training between now and the end of the season.

She has an Achilles flare-up and we are trying to get the training and the game time right. Paz going forward gives us so much with her crossing ability and she can beat players on the outside and gives that balance.

We are back in action on Sunday when we take on Leicester City at King Power Stadium in the WSL (kick-off 3pm GMT).

We drew 1-1 with Leicester in our opening game of the season and we should have won it after going 1-0 up but we missed some great chances and gave a bad goal away.

It’s going to be a tough game because Leicester are difficult to break down and don’t concede many goals and they are definitely a threat on the counter-attack.

I just feel with the strength and depth of the squad we now have, we have got the ability to change the game if we need to.

It’s a game we feel we can win, we know we are good on the road and sometimes these teams have to open up against us when they are at home. Leicester are in a position where they need the points, so hopefully that will play into our favour.

Sophie Roman Haug might be available for Sunday but we are not going to rush her. She is not a million miles away. Her quad issue is fine but she has a little issue with the ankle, so we just need to get that right.

We’ve got enough in the squad now, especially with the midfield players that we have brought in, Mia and Leanne [Kiernan] back fit, so I feel we’ve got enough there.

We are just going to be patient with Sophie. If she is fit for Sunday then she is in the squad, but if not she is not a million miles away.

Thank you for your continued support as always.

YNWA,

Matt

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

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