Liverpool gate-crashed the Girls’s Tremendous League high 4 final season and now need to show it was no “fluke”.
“I don’t think anyone thought we would do so well, ourselves included,” defender Grace Fisk instructed Sky Sports activities.
“You have one good season, you don’t want to make it a fluke. We need to show that we are here, we’re going to stick around and we’re going to challenge.”
The fourth-placed end was a major achievement, however the workforce’s ambition now’s to point out it was only the start of a brand new period the place Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United do not completely dominate the highest finish. How will they do it?
“The most important thing for us is to be consistent this season,” mentioned Fisk, who began each league sport throughout her first 12 months on the membership after signing from West Ham. “We dropped a couple of foolish factors in opposition to lower-half groups which was 4, 5, six factors that we missed out on.
“Making sure we get the job done against teams that we should get the job done against.”
A defining second from final season was Liverpool’s beautiful opening sport victory in opposition to Arsenal on the Emirates. “It was honestly unbelievable,” Fisk mentioned.
The outcome gave the workforce an enormous confidence increase and set the tone. “If we’ve beaten them, we can beat other teams,” added Fisk. Their opening day fixture this 12 months in opposition to Leicester is much less daunting however one they should win.
Liverpool’s defensive solidity was a function of their robust efficiency final season and sustaining that may be a high precedence. Fisk, who performs on the left aspect of a again three, attributes their success to a relentless work ethic. “No one’s afraid to do the hard stuff,” she mentioned. “We like to play football and all that stuff, but off the ball, it’s as important, if not more important.”
It’s a philosophy drilled residence by boss Matt Beard, final 12 months’s Girls’s Tremendous League Supervisor of the Season.
“Beardy’s not quiet on the sidelines and you can imagine in training, he’s not quiet either.” Fisk talks from expertise having additionally performed below Beard at West Ham. “He knows what he wants and he’ll get it out of his players.
“We have now various kinds of gamers on the workforce. We have now runners, technicians, and individuals who will put their our bodies on the road. He is good at simply managing all of them collectively and selecting the right workforce for that sport.
“He’s a very personable guy as well. You can chat to him about anything, which I think helps.”
Solely Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has managed extra WSL video games than Liverpool’s Matt Beard
There have been few modifications this summer season in Liverpool’s seek for consistency to construct on their achievements. Beard has made solely three signings: 20-year-old midfielder Olivia Smith from Sporting, defender Gemma Evans from Man Utd and Linkoping ahead Cornelia Kapocs.
Smith particularly has caught Fisk’s eye. “She’s so, so powerful. Honestly, I’ve never seen power like it on and off the ball.”
Pre-season hasn’t been with out its hurdles, although. Fisk’s ankle damage, sustained throughout coaching, has been a priority. “We’re just kind of playing it week by week,” she mentioned, acknowledging that restoration has taken longer than anticipated.
The 26-year-old has been a key a part of Liverpool’s success together with her composure in possession when enjoying out from the again. Her type has even led to speak of an England call-up.
“In the last year, I’ve been asked about it so much, which is nice. I’ve not had a chat with Sarina (Wiegman), so I feel like it tells me I’m quite far off and that’s just how I see it. I think about it, but I’m not going to go into the season with it as a goal.
“I had an honest season, but it surely was only one season. I am unable to ever put myself into the dialog off of 1 good season.
“If we have another good season together, then hopefully I’ll have a good season. The thing on the forefront of my brain is making sure our season wasn’t a one-season thing.”
