Liverpool Women Have Intrasquad Scrimmage After AFC Fylde Friendly Postponed

It was the first game simulation for the Matt Beard and his team after their friendly with AFC Fylde was postponed last weekend due to covid precations

The Liverpool FC Women’s team has been hard at work for several weeks now. Unfortunately, their preseason preparations had a bit of a hiccup as a scheduled friendly with AFC Fylde last weekend had to be postponed. Apparently due to a rise of covid-19 cases in the area, as well as a couple of positive cases in the team, both squads felt it safest to hold of on playing.

“Of course we were looking forward to Sunday for our first game but it’s important we follow all the relevant guidance,” said Liverpool manager Matt Beard when it was announced the friendly would be postponed.

“The majority of the squad are continuing to train within the correct procedures but the sensible thing is to wait.”

To help his squad get some game simulation, Beard and his staff organized an intrasquad scrimmage this weekend. The teams were comprised of a combination of senior team and U21 players, and lasted 50 minutes, and finished in a 1-1 draw. For Beard, it was nice to see his players get into a more competitive situation to work on some of the specific tactics they have been working on.

“We had two focus points today, which were our counter-press and attacking transition,” said the manager.

“Obviously we’ve been working on reduced numbers, so it was good to open the pitch right up and get minutes into their legs and their lungs. A couple of the attacking patterns we’re working on came off, especially in the first half, and we’re seeing players trying to build relationships.”

As Beard alluded to, building game fitness and staying healthy is just as important of building patterns of play. From his perspective, he felt good about where the team’s fitness levels are thanks to the work of David Robshaw and Hina Chauhan. Robshaw is the physical performance coach for the team, and Chuahan is the team physio.

“I was really pleased with the fitness levels so, David deserves a lot of credit and Hina as well, plus the girls for the work they’ve been putting in,” said Beard.

“We’ll have the majority of the squad back in training by the end of next week, we’ll probably be just one or two short.”

The Liverpool Women’s squad will look to build on their progress from the scrimmage. They will get an opportunity to play against some different faces next week as they take on familiar foe Leicester City, who were promoted to the WSL last season.

“The key for me is that we progress what we’ve done today into next week’s training and then playing against Super League opposition in Leicester will be a great test for us.”

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com