Liverpool Women star Olivia Smith leads Canada to U20 World Cup knockouts
Liverpool Women forward Olivia Smith and Canada have progressed to the round of 16 of the U20 World Cup.
The 17-year-old has been sensational throughout the tournament and scored two goals in the 9-0 win against Fiji on Wednesday [4 September].
Canada suffered a 2-0 loss to Brazil on Saturday [7 September] but will progress to the knockout portion of the competition, finishing as one of the best third-placed teams in Colombia.
Matt Beard will have to wait longer for Olivia Smith at Liverpool
Liverpool Women supporters will be delighted to see their club-record signing performing on the international stage, despite Beard now waiting a little while longer to integrate her into his plans.
The boss kicked off his pre-season preparations in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Birmingham City after a friendly against Manchester United was called off with the side suffering a mounting injury crisis.
Smith will return, barring injuries, from the U20 World Cup to embark on her debut campaign in the Women’s Super League with immense pressure on her shoulders to live up to the £210,000 outlay paid to Sporting CP for her signature.
It is no secret that despite recording a fourth-placed finish in the WSL last term, Beard has been eager to address the lack of goals in his side throughout the summer.
Cornelia Kapocs, signed from Linkoping FC, will help Smith carry the burden of firing the Reds to a title challenge with the aim of matching, or even surpassing, Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw, who scored 21 goals to win the Golden Boot last term.
Beard will be expected to deliver success to the St Helens stadium this season – even more so should Smith return to the AXA Kirkby Training Centre as a World Cup U20 winner.
In other Liverpool news, Teagan Micah is excited for the upcoming WSL season after what she has seen in training.
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