News'We have to outfight and outplay Villa' - Whiteley and Fahey's programme notes
Amber Whiteley and Niamh Fahey underscored the need for the Liverpool FC Women to overlook Aston Villa's place in the league table ahead of Sunday's showdown.
The Reds return to St Helens Stadium when they host Natalia Arroyo's team in the Barclays Women's Super League.
Villa currently sit 11th in the table – one point above bottom-side Crystal Palace – but the Reds' interim head coach and captain both know only a complete performance will secure the victory they crave.
Read on for snippets of the pair's columns in the matchday programme…
Whiteley
"Aston Villa have got a really talented squad. I don't think they're in a good spot at the moment but they're going to be fighting for every point they can get going forward.
"Rule No.1 is that you respect your opponent and this week has been no different. We have prepared as diligently, as we always do, and we have to be ready to outfight and outplay Villa this afternoon.
"It feels like a lifetime ago that we were last here at St Helens but we're really looking forward to getting back and playing in front of our home fans.
"We want to put on a performance that they can be really proud of and get behind.
"It's going to be tough today against a Villa team fighting for every point, so having our fans with us and their energy and input is going to be really important to help get a win over the line."
Get your copy of the programme at St Helens Stadium on Sunday or at our online store
Fahey
"Today we come up against Aston Villa, who are having a really tough season. It's hard to imagine they are in the position they are with the squad that they have and the investment that they've made and they're probably a little bit perplexed by it as well.
"However, there's no doubting the quality they have in the squad and I'm sure they're looking to try to get that first win now as they've been on a bit of a losing streak.
"You never want to play any team that is fighting for their lives and as that's now the scenario, there’s no doubt it's going to be a tough game for us.
"We have to be prepared for a Villa team who will fight all the way but also focus on ourselves and then implement the things that we want to do and that we've been mostly doing well over the last couple of weeks or so.
"It will be nice to see our old comrades Missy Bo Kearns and Miri Taylor again and hopefully it will be all friendly afterwards!"