Topic: Liverpool Women FC (*)

[gazzalfc]

Little off topic but ex Liverpool goalie Rylee Foster has joined Everton on a short term contract.

She suffered a horrendous neck injury in a car accident back in 2021 and didn't know if she would be able to play again. She spent a large part of her recovery in a safety neck Halo.

I don't know how the 'You'll Never Walk Alone' tattoo on her arm will go down but I hope she can continue her professional journey

[LeoT]

At last, the season starts.
After what feels like the longest summer break EVER!!!

[Samie]

Leading 1-0 at Half Time. 

[LeoT]

I guess that was always going to happen.
We missed a bag load of chances in the first 30min, then got punished.

[kellan]

Taylor Swift was playing on the PA when I got to my seat. So in her honour, I will sum up my thoughts on that match with a lyric of hers.

... I think I've seen this film before,
And I didn't like the ending.

[4pool]

Replay of the match on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKlIVcJqBXE

[jediwarrior]

Didn't see the game but my god Leicester seem a right bogey side to us.

[LeoT]

Didn't see the game but my god Leicester seem a right bogey side to us.

We should easily have gone into half time 3:0 ahead, so many clear cut chances, but each time we shot directly at the keeper. Then we could have scored another 2 or 3 in the 2nd half.
Leicester had maybe 2 or 3 decent chances in the whole game but stuck one away.

ManU and Spurs (our rivals) won, also Villa played really well but narrowly lost against Chelsea.
Will need to beat West Ham this Sunday, cos there are some tough games on the horizon.

[LeoT]

I couldn't make it to the match today cos if sickness.
Spent most of the match thinking "at 1:0 we may get caught out like we did at West Ham last season.

The YouTube stream ended on 82 mins.
Just checked the score on the BBC, the game finished 1:1.

[kellan]

That draw was entirely our own fault. Lacklustre on the pitch again, in all the ways we have been for a while. But then we go and compound the rolling over of last season's negatives by again making substitutions that don't need to be made, at times when they shouldn't be made. Five of them in the space of five minutes, when we were looking uncomfortable at only one goal up, and with only ten minutes left to play. Just why?

[LeoT]

Just why?

Maybe one of these...
 - Insanity
 - incompetence
 - boredom
 - pandering to players to give them some game time.

As soon as I saw Lundgaard coming on for Holland I said to my son "we have massively weakened our team so we ain't winning this game".

Based on the past 2 performances, I can't see us beating Spurs Next week

That draw was entirely our own fault. Lacklustre on the pitch again, in all the ways we have been for a while. But then we go and compound the rolling over of last season's negatives by again making substitutions that don't need to be made, at times when they shouldn't be made. Five of them in the space of five minutes, when we were looking uncomfortable at only one goal up, and with only ten minutes left to play. Just why?

[LeoT]

... forgot to say

Olivia Smith looked really good today.

[kellan]

As soon as I saw Lundgaard coming on for Holland I said to my son "we have massively weakened our team so we ain't winning this game".

It wasn't the specific personnel that had me thinking god oh here we go... it was purely the fact of there being four white shirts behind the fourth official. I had already decided I was about to see us fall apart and concede before I'd even checked who the subs were.

The camera panning back to the fourth official a few minutes later so we could make another sub - this time taking off the 6ft CB right when West Ham were priming themselves to start an aerial barrage on our box - would have been a head in the hands moment if my head hadn't already been there.

[kellan]

... forgot to say

Olivia Smith looked really good today.

Field 11 of her. She was great in her debut and was again. Might be the only positive to this season's start.

[BassTunedToRed]

... forgot to say

Olivia Smith looked really good today.

If people will pardon a little self promotion (and please delete this if not), I was there yesterday and wrote about Smith's performance. It was elite.
https://andrewbeasley.substack.com/p/stat-of-the-match-west-ham-1-1-liverpool

[kellan]

If people will pardon a little self promotion (and please delete this if not), I was there yesterday and wrote about Smith's performance. It was elite.
https://andrewbeasley.substack.com/p/stat-of-the-match-west-ham-1-1-liverpool

This was a great read.

As well as also playing three key passes to others, Smith harried opponents well. The young forward made two tackles in the final third, something any Liverpool player had done just 12 times since the club was last promoted - you reminiscing on Stengel there by any chance? She was the first player to come to mind when I was watching Smith vs Leicester and getting that first opportunity to see what she does for us that feels like an added characteristic. 'Stengel used to do that' popped into my head a lot. I found myself thinking it again watching Smith vs West Ham.

Stengel has the kind of frame that makes you expect strength, it was her having the technical ability to steal the ball or keep it during a physical battle that felt like the surprise. Whereas it's the other way around with Smith, her small size makes you expect she can nick the ball rather than bounce someone off it, but you very often see the latter. In either case, you get a forward who makes a pain of themselves and can be trusted in possession. I thought we missed that when Stengel left.

I've seen others comparing Smith to Lauren James. I don't disagree in some respects, but I've not got as far as comparing her to players in other teams. I've only really been thinking about which of our old players Smith reminds me of and what she restores to our football in their absence.

[BassTunedToRed]

This was a great read.

As well as also playing three key passes to others, Smith harried opponents well. The young forward made two tackles in the final third, something any Liverpool player had done just 12 times since the club was last promoted - you reminiscing on Stengel there by any chance? She was the first player to come to mind when I was watching Smith vs Leicester and getting that first opportunity to see what she does for us that feels like an added characteristic. 'Stengel used to do that' popped into my head a lot. I found myself thinking it again watching Smith vs West Ham.

Stengel has the kind of frame that makes you expect strength, it was her having the technical ability to steal the ball or keep it during a physical battle that felt like the surprise. Whereas it's the other way around with Smith, her small size makes you expect she can nick the ball rather than bounce someone off it, but you very often see the latter. In either case, you get a forward who makes a pain of themselves and can be trusted in possession. I thought we missed that when Stengel left.

I've seen others comparing Smith to Lauren James. I don't disagree in some respects, but I've not got as far as comparing her to players in other teams. I've only really been thinking about which of our old players Smith reminds me of and what she restores to our football in their absence.

Thanks, mate, very kind.

Yeah Stengel crossed my mind, but Smith is more mobile and quicker (though being younger obviously helps!). Re the stat specifically, Stengel did hit that mark a couple of times, you can see the list here: https://stathead.com/tiny/tdKdi

[LeoT]

That's really good info.
I keep wondering if Smith should be played as an 8 in some games with Kiernan or Enderby up front next to SRH?

I only say that because I feel terrified every time Holland or Herby get substituted.
The alternatives scare the life out of me.

If people will pardon a little self promotion (and please delete this if not), I was there yesterday and wrote about Smith's performance. It was elite.
https://andrewbeasley.substack.com/p/stat-of-the-match-west-ham-1-1-liverpool

[LeoT]

It felt so weird watching Stengel play for Palace last week.

I kinda wish we got Stengel back rather than Kapocs. Though I'm not trying to write Kapocs s to write Kapocs off. Hopefully she'll have an amazing career with Liverpool.

Thanks, mate, very kind.

Yeah Stengel crossed my mind, but Smith is more mobile and quicker (though being younger obviously helps!). Re the stat specifically, Stengel did hit that mark a couple of times, you can see the list here: https://stathead.com/tiny/tdKdi

[Nessy76]

Our Hannah's starting against Manchester United tonight.

[kellan]

That's really good info.
I keep wondering if Smith should be played as an 8 in some games with Kiernan or Enderby up front next to SRH?

I only say that because I feel terrified every time Holland or Herby get substituted.
The alternatives scare the life out of me.

Why the hell not at this point? What we're doing doesn't work. But I would say we're in need of more radical change than dropping Smith deeper, especially so when she already pops up where she would be expected to if properly deployed as an 8.

I think it's time to ditch the back five. It was already time last season. But now it's definitely time, because without Koivisto's attacking contribution, there is practically zero pay-off to us using wingbacks that couldn't be achieved some other way.

It was always my view that we only played with five defenders because we knew we lacked goals. It made sense to go with a conservative system that would help limit the number of goals we conceded, while at the same time setting us up well for pinging balls into the box for SRH. I really did think that us finally getting to freshen up the attacking options this summer would coincide with a change in shape, but the back five remains. I'm not sure this game plan functions well enough considering how long we've been using it, and I think opposition teams have well and truly sussed it. Unfortunately, even if we do now switch, it will happen mid-season and therefore potentially not be pain-free in the slightest.

[kellan]

Our Hannah's starting against Manchester United tonight.

It's nice to have her back in the first team squad following her loan. I wasn't able to watch her too closely last night due to the buffering stream, but how she gets on this season is on my list of things to look out for. Hopefully she can pick up where she left off. She impressed me at the back of 22/23 was it?

[Nessy76]

It's nice to have her back in the first team squad following her loan. I wasn't able to watch her too closely last night due to the buffering stream, but how she gets on this season is on my list of things to look out for. Hopefully she can pick up where she left off. She impressed me at the back of 22/23 was it?

Yeah, I think she was getting a few games then. The loan was great for her, she played a lot and was a hit with the fans there. Always hard for a young defender to break in.

[jaygraham]

Members and season ticket holders have been able to get free tickets to the women’s matches, but just went to have a look for the next couple of games and there’s nothing that I can see. Have they decided to end that now?

Was thinking of going to the city game at Anfield but I’m not paying a tenner.

[kellan]

Members and season ticket holders have been able to get free tickets to the women’s matches, but just went to have a look for the next couple of games and there’s nothing that I can see. Have they decided to end that now?

Was thinking of going to the city game at Anfield but I’m not paying a tenner.

Yes, that ended with the stadium move this summer.

You can get City + United + Everton at Anfield for 20 quid if you're looking for more value for money.

A tenner per ticker is going rate now.

[jaygraham]

Yes, that ended with the stadium move this summer.

You can get City + United + Everton at Anfield for 20 quid if you're looking for more value for money.

A tenner per ticker is going rate now.

That's a shame. I don't want to look like a pure mingebag here but I spend so much on home and away, I'm really not prepared to pay for the women's team as well.

I've been to a fair few women's games over the last 3-4 seasons and like to show my support when i can, but paying in seems excessive. Especially when i think its people in the ground that they need more than money.

Oh well!

[Hazell]

What a goal from Kapocs!

[Samie]

1-0

Better than Ibrahimovic this girl.

https://xcancel.com/LiverpoolFCW/status/1842922544309141835

[Bioluminescence]

Beautiful free-kick by Hobinger.

[CHOPPER]

5 goal thriller, Liverpool win 3-2 and score all 5 goals.

Is a crazy crazy.

[TheShanklyGates]

Can't blow another lead if you score the winner deep into stoppage time.

[Samie]

She has better technique than some of our men... better looking than all bar Szobs too. 

[jediwarrior]

Got out of jail with that win. It was a soft penalty. Really need to start to learn to score twice when we're on top otherwise you leave yourself open when the other side have a spell. Thought we went to pieces at the back after conceding. First two goals were great from us.

[thaddeus]

It was good to see this on the normal tele (BBC2).  It was a very entertaining game and our women's team again looked talented but also a bit defective.  Another ACL injury was definitely a mood dampener.

It's a shame the match was scheduled against the NFL game on ITV at the same time, particularly as it highlighted Spurs women playing at a quite empty Leyton Orient ground whilst the actual Spurs stadium was at capacity hosting the NFL game.  I don't know which fixture was scheduled in first.

[BassTunedToRed]

It was good to see this on the normal tele (BBC2).  It was a very entertaining game and our women's team again looked talented but also a bit defective.  Another ACL injury was definitely a mood dampener.

It's a shame the match was scheduled against the NFL game on ITV at the same time, particularly as it highlighted Spurs women playing at a quite empty Leyton Orient ground whilst the actual Spurs stadium was at capacity hosting the NFL game.  I don't know which fixture was scheduled in first.

Tottenham Women almost always play at Leyton Orient. I think they play Arsenal at the mens stadium but that might be the only exception. Liverpool have certainly played in Leyton all three times since promotion.

[gazzalfc]

The NFL games would most certainly have been scheduled before the womens team and unfortunately would have been given priority over it as well.

I think the contract the NFL have with Spurs is multiple years long

[LeoT]

Good win only spoiled by Lundgaard's injury.

Lundgaard
I was in the crowd and could tell instantly that something was wrong. Watching the highlights on TV didn't seem to pick this up, but Lundgaard went down, waited about 2 seconds, and the let out the most awful scream.  Hope it is not as bad as it seemed.

The Lineup - foolishly I looked at the BBC website for the line up whilst walking from my car, and was shocked to see us playing a back 3 of Parry, Bonner & Mathews (that's the last time I look at the BBC for a lineup). Thankfully we seemed to be 4-2-3-1, and the BBC was a load of old nonsense.

Overall, I thought we were really good first half and did everything except score a 2nd goal, then shakey 2nd half.

Olivia Smith looked really, really good, however she kinda needs to learn that sometimes the team will get more goals if she crosses/passes (she's young so will deffo learn with experience), seemed a bit like she had a point to prove.

Kapocs - I was saying to my son, "not so sure about the lack of physicality of that new girl - Kapocs", then 2 minutes later she scored a worldie.

Herbie - At half time I said to my son "Herbie's not playing as well as she usually does", then she scored that top bins free kick. and a penalty to win the game.

...I'll keep my mouth shut next time

Mathews
The defense looked a bit wobbly at times after Mathews went into midfield, but hopefully that will improve when Fisk returns (to me Bonner and Fisk and a cut above our other centre backs).
I thought Mathews was good in both positions she played.

Sophie Roman Haug
Finally, I criticized Sophie Roman Haug for her slow pressing when she first arrived last season.
Yesterday I was blown away by how much she runs, she was relentless, never stopped pressing.

[BassTunedToRed]

Olivia Smith looked really, really good, however she kinda needs to learn that sometimes the team will get more goals if she crosses/passes (she's young so will deffo learn with experience), seemed a bit like she had a point to prove.

Smith became the first LFCW player to have seven shots in an away game since the club was promoted (see pic)... but yeah, some of her shot choices were not the best!

As you didn't mention Nagano, I'll give her a mention - I had her in mind for POTM until Hobinger scored that free-kick. But a good performance nonetheless, aside from one dangerous possession loss on the edge of our box.

[jediwarrior]

Lundgaard confirmed ACL injury. All the best to her in her recovery.

[LeoT]

Next up - Man City.
Not really looking forward to this game to be honest.

I watched the ManC vs Barca game on TV yesterday, ManC were worthy winners based on a very good 1st half performance, so they'll be buzzing on Sunday.