Matt Beard shares WSL admission after Liverpool Women loss v Manchester United
Matt Beard has affirmed his Liverpool Women’s priority is on Women’s Super League success this season after the 2-0 loss to Manchester United in the FA WSL Cup.
The Reds lined up at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday [2 October] with nine changes to the side that drew 1-1 with West Ham United in the WSL last weekend.
Melvine Malard and Rachael Williams ensured it was a comfortable victory for the hosts however, Beard revealed to the club’s official website [3 October] that he will not let the result distract his side from success in the league.
He said: “The league is always a priority for me and us. Yes, we want to do well in this competition and every competition we play in, but you look at this week for us and we played away in London on Sunday and the same again this Sunday.
“From that side we have to do best by the players and make sure everyone is fit and healthy for all three games.”
Liverpool will prioritise WSL success this season
The Reds have stalled out the gates in the WSL this season with two draws from their opening two fixtures against Leicester City and West Ham.
After a phenomenal fourth-placed finish in the league last term, Liverpool were expected to push on to greater heights this year and mount a serious challenge to Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal.
Fenway Sports Group provided the Women’s side with the firepower Beard desperately craved this summer with the signings of Olivia Smith, who opened her Reds account against West Ham, and Cornelia Kapocs.
However, the Reds recorded 24 shots on goal across the two draws and Beard has been left furious with the lack of clinical edge in front of goal from his side thus far.
It is only two matches into the new season, so there is no need to raise the alarms in St Helens just yet, but, the warning signs are there for the Reds, their WSL rivals are already off the mark, and Beard must beat Tottenham at the Gaughan Group Stadium on Sunday [6 October] to lay down a statement of intent.
Kapocs is yet to make her full debut for the club, with Smith recording her first Liverpool goal, Beard must find a way to integrate both the Swede and Canadian into his starting lineup on Sunday.
If the Reds boss is willing to sacrifice success in cup competitions to focus on the WSL, he must get it right or face erasing all the hard work made last term.
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