Liverpool manager Matt Beard shared his thoughts after his team’s 2-1 loss to Leicester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday at King Power Stadium.
The Reds got off to a perfect start, with Olivia Smith scoring just three minutes into the match. However, Leicester responded strongly in the first half, with goals from Janice Cayman and Missy Goodwin turning the game in their favor. Despite dominating the second half, Liverpool was unable to find an equalizer.
Beard highlighted the disappointment of the first half, stating, “Obviously, a good start. Smithy has gambled, and whether it’s a bit of luck or not, she put the goalkeeper under pressure and got the goal. But then I thought we lost control of the game after that, which is frustrating.” He added that the first-half performance cost his side, as they had enough chances to convert more than just one goal.
“We were just not at it in the first half. Leicester are fighting for their lives, and I said before the game that we have to outfight them and outwork them. I don’t think we did that in the first half,” Beard explained. “But in the second half, we controlled the game completely. We just needed a bit more composure at times.”
Regarding the two goals conceded in the first half, Beard was critical, mentioning that both were avoidable. One came from a set-piece, and the second resulted from a throw-in that was intercepted. “There were many things in the first half that I wasn’t happy with – some of our passing, some of our movement, playing players under pressure or playing it to the wrong side,” he added.
Despite the result, Beard took positives from the second half and noted that new addition Julia Bartel made an impact on her Liverpool debut. “Julia is a fantastic player, she’s so comfortable on the ball and a little bit feisty as well, which we like. She’s going to be a good addition for us,” he said.
Looking ahead, Beard remains optimistic about his team’s potential to bounce back. “I said to the players after the game, we lost it in the first half, and as much as it’s been frustrating, we have to believe,” he said. “We have gifted players, and we need to make sure we work harder when we don’t have the ball. We’ll be fine.”
With the FA Cup next on the agenda, Beard is determined to ensure his side recovers quickly, as Liverpool prepares for their fourth-round tie at West Ham United on Wednesday night.
