'One of the best' – Liverpool manager praised by Arsenal quadruple-winner as Reds look to break top four dominance

03/05/2024 17:25

It is not just the title race that has been a closely-fought one in the WSL this season.

The race for the top four is proving to be equally close this season as old rivals Manchester United and Liverpool battle to claim the fourth spot.

The two sides face off in a fixture which could define both of their fates this season on Sunday, May 5.

Liverpool are fresh off the back of a seven-goal thriller against defending WSL champions Chelsea in which they defeated Emma Hayes’ side 4-3, ultimately taking the title out of the Blues’ hands.

But more crucially for Liverpool, the result propelled them level on points with fourth-placed Man United, only behind on goal difference.

No side other than Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea or Man United have finished within the top four since 2019 – the year after Man United Women’s side were reformed.

It means the fight for the coveted fourth spot could rest on the result of this meeting – and much of that battle could well come down to the management styles of United boss Marc Skinner and Liverpool boss Matt Beard.

Arsenal legend Gilly Flaherty was part of the side who won the historic and unmatched English quadruple in the 2006/07 season.

When asked about what managers had got the best out of her during her career, Flaherty reflected on the qualities that had most resonated with her.

She told talkSPORT’s Women’s Football Show: “All I’ve ever wanted from a manager is honesty. Honesty and to feel valued at a club.”

Flaherty played for various managers during a 17-year professional career which saw her sign for Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool.

But she singled out a manager whom she had played under at more than one club as a particular favourite.

She added: “One of the best managers I’ve ever played under for that is Matt Beard. He knows when to put an arm around you, he knows – especially towards me – when to go ‘that’s not good enough, I need more from you’.

“But he just got the best out of me. That’s why I say it’s fitting really that I ended my career playing again for him.

“Because in all honesty I wouldn’t have wanted to retire underneath anyone else.”

Flaherty retired in 2023 after helping Liverpool to a seventh place WSL finish in her only season at the club.

But her season with the Reds was not the first time she had been managed by Beard.

Flaherty also overlapped with Beard for a season at Chelsea in 2014/15 and for two further seasons at West Ham from 2018 to 2020.

There is no doubt that Beard has masterminded a revolution at Liverpool, particularly in this most recent season.

For a side who were relegated from the WSL in 2020, their revival has been remarkable and it is now not such a crazy thought to think they could soon return to the heights that saw them win consecutive WSL titles in 2013 and 2014.

The good news for Liverpool fans is that with a manager like Beard at the helm, this outstanding season looks likely to be only the beginning.

Speaking after their victory over Chelsea, he reflected on just what this season had meant for the club.

"We've made massive strides”, he said. “We decided to go young with the recruitment and I feel the team has grown together. The exciting thing for me is the team is only going to get better.”

Moreover, the club have recently announced that from next season, Liverpool Women will move their home ground from Prenton Park to the St Helen’s Stadium in Merseyside.

The new ground has a capacity of 18,000 – just over the current stadium’s capacity of 16,587.

With Liverpool Women’s attendances rising in-line with the rest of the WSL sides, it represents an important step forward and the club have declared their intention for the women’s team to play more matches at Anfield too.

A club statement read: “The new 10-year lease at St Helens demonstrates the club's long-term commitment to its women's team and the club's ongoing desire to provide the players and staff with the best facilities possible, fulfilling the ambitions for LFC Women and supporting its continued growth.”

You can tune into talkSPORT’s Women’s Football Show on Mondays from 7pm on talkSPORT 2.