Carla Ward’s Aston Villa look to get back on track as they make the trip to Prenton Park to face Matthew Beard’s Liverpool in the Women’s Super League. Here’s the latest heading into this game-week 2 fixture…
THE BUILD UP
It was late heartbreak last time out for Ward’s Villa side, with Manchester United’s Rachel Williams scoring a 93rd minute winner to kick-off the 2023/24 Women’s Super League.
The first-half was cagey, with very little to separate the two sides at Villa Park. Summer recruit Daphne van Domselaar was called into action on a couple of occasions and the Dutch shot-stopper done well to keep out efforts from Geyse and Ella Toone.
A decision from referee Rebecca Welch in the 74th minute would change the complexion of the game, however, when Kirsty Hanson was controversially shown a red card for a challenge on United’s Hayley Ladd. Despite the Woman disadvantage, Rachel Daly opened the scoring in the 77th minute, firing the ball past Lionesses’ team-mate Mary Earps.
The Red Devils would find a way back into the match moments later with Spanish international Lucia Garcia smashing it home from a corner, before Williams nodded it past van Domselaar to sink the battling Villa in the closing stages.
Carla Ward is looking to move on quickly from last weekend’s defeat and has spoke on her side’s reaction to the opening day loss. She said: “The girls have been really good, the reactionβs been good. Thankfully, WSL games come thick and fast so itβs an opportunity. There was a massive part of last week that we were really happy with. When it was 11 v 11 I canβt say Manchester United broke us down too many times.
“Itβs got to be the same attitude and the same mindset, and take the positives from last week into this week.β
The 39-year-old head coach will hope her side can claim their first three points away at Liverpool later today. The Reds were victorious on the opening weekend, defeating Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal by a goal to nil in front of a record WSL crowd at the Emirates Stadium.
Miri Taylor was the scorer in North-London, converting Missy Bo Kearns’ cross just after half-time to claim a big three points on the road.
Head coach Matthew Beard discussed the difficulty of their game-week 2 opposition heading into today’s game. He said: “Aston Villa proved what a good team they are last season. It was only us and them that beat teams that are in that top three, so Carla Ward has strengthened their team really well, in January and in this window, and I think they are genuine contenders to break into that top four, top three this year.
“They have got experience, they have got goals, so they have everything in their team, and itβs going to be a completely different test for us this weekend.”
Can Carla Ward’s side bounce back from last weekend’s defeat with all three points on Merseyside or will Beard’s Reds make it two from two in the Women’s Super League?
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TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa head coach Carla Ward could welcome defender Maz Pacheco back into the starting line-up for this weekend’s game against Liverpool. The 25-year-old full-back spent the weekend opener against Manchester United on the bench after suffering with illness leading up to the fixture at Villa Park.
Speaking on the condition of the number 33, Ward said: “Maz Pacheco sadly had a couple of weeks out being unwell. Sheβs been back in training and has been excellent in training. Now itβs about getting her physically up to speed and ready because two weeks out is not easy. Itβs good to have her back on the training pitch as lively as she always is.β
Sunday’s game at Prenton Park will come too soon for midfielder Kenza Dali, however. The former West Ham and Everton midfielder picked up a knock on the back of her World Cup campaign with France over the summer and has failed to recover in time for this weekend’s action in the WSL.
On Dali, boss Carla Ward said: βItβs probably too soon for Kenz [Dali]. Sheβs going to be back running this week. The sooner we get her back the better, everyone knows her quality.”
Elsewhere, Kirsty Hanson will miss the next three games through suspension. The Scottish winger was controversially sent off in the second-half of last weekend’s defeat against Manchester United and, despite appealing against the dismissal, will be out until the start of November when the Villans play hosts to champions Chelsea.
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool head coach Matthew Beard welcomed back forward Melissa Lawley this week ahead of their maiden home game of the campaign. Lawley has spent the last six months sidelined after undergoing hip surgery but is back in the fold and available for selection this evening.
Speaking on the number 11’s comeback, Beard said: “The only one that will be fit and available will be Mel Lawley.
“It’s great. Mel’s worked incredibly hard over the off-season. She’s slowly but surely getting there and we’re really looking forward to having her available.”
Liverpool will be without number ten Sophie Roman Haug, however. The Norwegian forward, who joined from AS Roma this summer, recently suffered a broken nose and [according to Matt Beard] ‘needs to let it settle’ before she can make her WSL debut for her new side.
Speaking on his new recruit, Beard said: “On the injury front, we need to let Sophieβs broken nose settle. The specialist will see her again next week so we will know more then.”
Elsewhere, defender Jasmine Matthews and forward Yana Daniels are expected to return to the Liverpool squad for this evening’s game at Prenton Park. The duo both missed the season opener at the Emirates through illness but could feature tonight, whilst Matt Beard confirms Leanne Kiernan is now ‘pain-free’ but is still a few weeks away and Shanice van de Sanden is ‘slowly but surely getting there’.
The 45-year-old head coach also confirmed that Natasha Flint and Mia Enderby ‘will be available for selection’ too, after the pair had recently fallen ill with COVID.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Letβs take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixture at Prenton Parkβ¦
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and letβs discuss?
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and let’s discuss?
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