ColumnMatt Beard: We have to play the game and not the occasion at Everton

I felt the 3-0 scoreline against Chelsea was harsh on us. It ended up being a frustrating day for us in that regard.

We had prepared all week and we told the players if you give them opportunities they will take them, and lo and behold it happened.

However, I do think that there are plenty of positives we can take from the match – the way we started the game and the second-half performance in particular.

It has been a frustrating time for us with key personnel missing and we were without Fuka Nagano against Chelsea and there was no Sophie Roman Haug either. When you lose players like that out of your team who have so much quality, it hurts you a little bit.

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We did have some opportunities when we could have had a shot at goal but we opted not to. I said to Leanne Kiernan and Smithy [Olivia Smith] at half-time, I would much rather them shoot and miss than not have an opportunity at all. When you are playing against teams like Chelsea and Manchester City, you need to get your strikes off at goal.

I also told the girls at half-time that we don’t give up on anything and to make sure we are disciplined and carry on with the game plan.

We displayed great character in the second half when we were 2-0 down. We showed the players the spaces at the break, especially when we were on the transition because at times we were three-v-two on their back line.

I do think we caused Chelsea problems and it wasn’t a comfortable game for them, so there are positives we can take from it but also some big learning curves as well.

We now turn our attention to the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, which is a big game for us (kick-off 3pm GMT).

If Everton go in front they are a tough side to break down, and I think Brian Sorensen is a good coach and a good manager who has done a good job there.

They have had a few injuries, like ourselves, and we know it will be a tough game with it being a derby. But we are right up for it.

We haven’t had much fortune playing Everton in recent league games and I thought we were desperately unlucky to lose 1-0 to them at Anfield last season. I also remember Leighanne Robe’s goal at Goodison Park when it was disallowed.

Form goes out of the window in these games. We’ve just got to make sure that we outrun them and outfight them. We know we’ve got the quality in our team to hurt them.

We are well aware that this will be one of the last derbies ever to be played at Goodison Park, but our only concern is going there and getting three points on Sunday.

It’s like anything, you’ve got to play the game and not the occasion. We know our supporters will be loud and get behind the team, and we hope to make you proud.

Thank you for your continued support, as always.

YNWA,

Matt

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

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