InterviewRachael Laws on Merseyside derby: 'We're in a good place - let's put right what happened at Anfield'

In October, the Blues won 1-0 in front of the Kop on a frustrating afternoon for Matt Beard’s side in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Since that loss, the Reds have gone on to enjoy a great season and are currently level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United, having also reached the quarter-finals of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

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“If you look back at that game at Anfield, when Bo [Missy Bo Kearns] had an early goal ruled out that should have stood, I think if it had stood it would have been a different game because our mentality is so different if that goes in,” Laws told Liverpoolfc.com.

“It give us a bit of a kick in the teeth when it doesn’t go your way and unfortunately it just wasn’t to be our day.

“Going to Goodison on Sunday is a massive opportunity for us to put right what happened at Anfield earlier in the season, and I think the way we are playing and the result against West Ham last weekend, I think we are in a really good place.

“We can’t take anything for granted, though. It’s a derby game, it’s a one-off and we know it’s going to be very hard against Everton because they are a very good team and they play some very good football. I just think we have got to be on our ‘A’ game and hopefully we bring it this weekend.”

In December, Liverpool defeated Everton 2-1 in the Continental League Cup at Walton Hall Park, and Laws is eager to make the fans happy once more this weekend.

The Reds goalkeeper continued: “It put a smile on people’s faces and it’s a derby, a one-off game. So whether it’s a cup game or league game, we want to win it.

“Our fans made a big, big difference for us that night. They turned up in their numbers and we could hear them.

“It would have been nice to have kept a clean sheet but it didn’t matter because we won the game and it’s always nice to beat Everton no matter what the result, and we needed that just before Christmas as well.

“That’s what the game is all about, the fans. If they weren’t there in their numbers, who would you win for? Yes, you do it for each other and the team, but the fans come week in, week out and we want to repay them.

“That’s ultimately what we want to do at the end of the day – we want to get three points for the fans and, as cliché as this is, they are our 12th person.

“When you hear them loud and proud, we just want to win so much for them. Hopefully we can put a smile on their faces on Sunday.”

Everton’s winner at Anfield earlier in the campaign came from a corner, and Laws revealed the team has been working hard on set-pieces, both for and against.

She said: “We have actually touched on it this week in our analysis, talking about our set-pieces.

“We actually defend set-pieces really well and it’s something we really work on and have gone into a lot more detail on.

“From game to game, you can see us improving, you can see us tactically getting it right. Set-pieces are a massive opportunity to have a chance on goal, and I think if we get them right then attacking-wise we are very dangerous and defensively we have got a lot of height in the team.

“Again, if we get the defensive side of it right then going forward I think we have been very good from set-pieces this season and it’s a massive bonus of ours.”

Liverpool will go into the derby with confidence restored after the 3-1 win over West Ham United last Sunday.

It was the perfect response from the team after the previous weekend’s disappointing FA Cup quarter-final exit to Leicester City at Prenton Park.

“It was really important, especially on the back of the Leicester result,” said Laws. “We know we didn’t perform how we can and how we should have in the FA Cup tie. We didn’t get the basics right.

“But I thought against West Ham we got the basics right and it showed. When we had the ball, our possession-based football took over and we were very comfortable in the end.

“It could have been a few more goals for us but a good win, a good confident win and a good confidence-booster to go into the derby.”

For Republic of Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan, a place in the starting XI against the Hammers saw her find the net with her first goal since returning from injury.

Not only was it an appropriate goal from the No.9 on St. Patrick’s Day, it was a wholesome moment shared by the entire squad.

“Leanne is just such a good egg and she has been to hell and back with that injury,” Laws said.

“People don’t see from the outside, but we have all seen how hard she has worked to get to that moment, how mentally tough it has been. So to see her score, it was almost the relief for Leanne but everyone else. We were just buzzing!

“I just think that shows what a person she is and [how] everybody wants her to do well. After the goal went in, everybody celebrated that bit harder. She is an excellent person to be around and no-one deserves it more!”

Summer signing Sophie Roman Haug netted her seventh goal of the season and was almost unplayable in the air against West Ham, winning most of her aerial duels to set up attacks.

With accurate kicks up the pitch, Laws has formed a great understanding with the Norwegian forward.

“It’s almost telepathic, to be honest!” Laws declared. “We know with her aerial ability she is an absolute machine and if we do need to go long in games, we know that as a target up front she is going to win nine balls out of 10, if not 10 out of 10.

“It’s a really good weapon to have in the team, especially when you need to release the pressure a bit. Sophie is doing really well for us.”

With six games to play this season, Beard’s side are aiming to finish as high up the WSL table as they possibly can.

The potential of the young squad has been very much evident with performances and results.

“We are doing well and if you look at where we were at this point last year, our points tally was nowhere near where we are now,” Laws said.

“We went into this season hoping to be in a much better position – and we are. We are beating teams we expect to beat and we are challenging the teams above us, which I think is really important.

“If you compare the two seasons, this season has been black and white.

“This is where we want to be and we want to be challenging that top two and three spots in the WSL. Why can’t we close the gap? Because I think we’ve done that fantastically well this season.

“It’s a squad effort, it’s not just an 11, it’s everybody. I think we signed really well in the summer and that has shown in the games this season.”

On a personal level, Laws is really enjoying the campaign and having competition for her place from Australia’s Teagan Micah. She is as determined as ever to keep her spot as Liverpool’s last line of defence.

Laws concluded: “Competition is always welcome and I think if you want to be that little bit better, me and Teagan push each other every day with Pottsy [Joe Potts].

“Going into games, no matter who plays we know we’ve got a good goalkeeper in goal. But you know you’ve got to perform that bit harder because you know someone is waiting to take your place.

“You can’t make that many mistakes and as a goalkeeper that is difficult because you are called out that bit more if you do make one, but it’s how you bounce back from that.

“I think this season I’m definitely playing some of my best football, I feel in a really good place and I feel I’m helping the team a lot. Touch wood, as a team our form is really good and that always helps.

“The girls in front of me are fantastic and I think if they do their job really well I don’t have to do much of mine, which is great. But I do feel in a really good place and hopefully I can continue that form and help this team.”

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