Matt Beard rues ‘unforgivable’ moment that cost Liverpool Women v Leicester City
Matt Beard has pinpointed one “unforgivable” moment that cost Liverpool Women in their 1-1 draw with Leicester City.
The Reds took the lead at the stroke of half-time through Sophie Roman Haug but could have taken a commanding lead into the break after Marie Hobinger and Lucy Annabel Parry spurned golden chances.
Taylor Hinds missed the interception which allowed Jutta Rantala to equalise for the visitors and ultimately earn a share of the spoils and Beard looked back on the moment that cost his side the three points.
“We should have been out of sight in the first half, we’ve missed some really clear-cut chances,” he said via the club website [22 September].
“We could have had the game put to bed. And all the time they’re still in it, it gives them a little bit of confidence to try to get something out of the game.
“I felt we were sloppy at times, I thought we dropped our standards, especially in the last 10 or 15 minutes of the first half; sloppy passing, putting ourselves under pressure.
“I think it’s definitely two points dropped because we were in complete control of it, great chances we created. And the goal we conceded was unforgivable – two passes and the ball is in the back of our net.
“Switched off from a free-kick, not switched on, not got back into position. We said at half-time things like that happen if you switch off for that split-second, that’s what can happen and obviously it has proved to be right.”
Liverpool Women fall at the first hurdle
Liverpool seemingly have teething problems at both ends of the pitch as the Reds struggled to get going against Leicester.
The Reds entered the season with plenty of optimism surrounding the club and their chances to push on in the Women’s Super League this term but if the side are genuine in their intentions to mount a challenge, matches against Leicester on home soil should be three points every day of the week.
Beard’s side orchestrated a barrage of attacks on the opposition goal with Ceri Holland leading the charge but, the final product escaped the Reds on the day and an early opportunity was missed to gain early ground on Arsenal and Manchester City who played out a 2-2 draw at the Emirates.
There were still plenty of positives at St Helens for Beard with summer signings Olivia Smith and Gemma Evans impressing on their debut with Cornelia Kapocs getting some valuable minutes on the pitch from the bench.
Beard will demand a far more dominating performance for the trip to West Ham United on Sunday [29 September] with a chance for the players, Hinds in particular, to bounce back for Liverpool.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds are in line for a new ‘revenue uplift’ after the recent New York announcement.
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