Ladies aim to bounce back at County
Liverpool Ladies hope to bounce back from the Chelsea defeat when they take on Notts County at Meadow Lane in the Women's Super League clash on Monday afternoon.
Scott Rogers' charges played very well against the Londoners and were rather unfortunate to lose 2-1 on Wednesday night.
The trip to Notts County (kick-off 3pm BST) is Liverpool Ladies first trip on the road this season and, after a mixed bag of results, they may well be grateful of a change of scene.
Rogers began life in the hot-seat with a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City, but the Reds then let a two-goal lead slip to draw with Sunderland and suffered a 2-1 home defeat to champions Chelsea on Wednesday.
But midfielder Katie Zelem, who scored the goal against the Lady Pies that clinched Liverpool the 2014 WSL 1 title, believes they have the perfect chance to return to winning ways on Monday.
“We’ve had a lot of games in quick succession and Monday is an ideal opportunity to pick ourselves up,” said the 20-year-old.
“Notts County are a very good side and they'll be physical. We know what's coming and our game will change to play against them especially as we are away.
“I don't think we've had a bad start. We've played a good side in Chelsea and that was always going to be difficult.
“We would have liked all three points against Sunderland but from now on we'll take each game as it comes and see what happens.”
View from the opposition
County boss Rick Passmoor is hoping his team can rediscover their sparkle when Liverpool visit Meadow Lane on Monday.
The Lady Pies twice came from behind to rescue a point last time out against Reading, but are yet to register a victory from their opening two FA Women’s Super League 1 matches.
Passmoor has, however, seen the full extent of his team’s capabilities with a run to the SSE Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals, ended after a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Arsenal, and he is hopeful that cup form can be transferred into the league.
“We’re looking forward to the game and we need to bounce back in terms of our performance, because against Reading we lacked our usual fizz and intensity,” said Passmoor.
“We didn’t do ourselves justice, we need to play like we did against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
“We need to defend Liverpool’s set-pieces, because we know that’s where they can hurt us.
“Two players we have looked at as the danger are Caroline Weir and Shanice Van De Sanden, they have caused lots of problems already this season.
“Liverpool will only get better. They have put a new squad together and are really playing for Scott [Rogers] in his first full season.
“They produce great patterns of play and have strength all over the pitch.”
Last time out
Injury-hit Liverpool Ladies were defeated 2-0 by Notts County in the semi-finals of the Continental Cup the last time these two sides met.
With key players out the Reds fielded a young side that performed admirably on the night despite the result. Shannon Beckwith was handed her first start and Mollie Green appeared as a second half substitute.
Rosie White was unlucky to see an effort come back off the post, but it wasn't to be Liverpool's night as two goals from Ellen White secured the victory for County.