Vicky Jepson on Charlton win, Bailey maiden goal and Moore debut
Liverpool FC Women manager Vicky Jepson was delighted after her side produced an excellent display in Sunday's 4-0 win over Charlton Athletic at Prenton Park.
It was the first home victory of the season for the Reds in the FA Women’s Championship and carried on the momentum after the 3-0 away win at London Bees.
Inspirational midfielder Rachel Furness netted twice, with Jade Bailey notching her first goal for the club and Kirsty Linnett adding a superb fourth strike.
Read on as Jepson reflects on the 4-0 win and a debut for New Zealand international Meikayla Moore…
On the victory over Charlton…
We’ve been fantastic since that first game against Durham. We have reflected on that and performed in the two games since that Durham game. So today was a really important three points for us and we hope to continue on the momentum. It was really good to see how we dominated and possessed the ball to get into the final third. I thought we linked up really well, which is something we really wanted to improve on because we know teams will sit as many players behind the ball against us as they can and make it very difficult to take away that space in the final third. We have to shift the ball quickly with pace and I thought we did that really well on Sunday. Compliments to Charlton because they were relentless. Even when they were 3-0 down, they did not stop. I felt we dealt with the challenges they posed really well but I do wish Charlton Athletic all the best for the rest of the season.
On Bailey netting her first goal in a red shirt and an assist…
Jade was really cool and calm on that pitch. It was as if she was a 30-year-old midfielder that’s played for years. She really did control the way that we played, the way that we got on the ball and switched the ball around them. To get a goal and an assist is fantastic. It’s been a long time coming but I’m delighted to see Jade find the back of the net – really pleasing – and also out of possession when she broke up the Charlton attacks.
On a double strike from Furness taking her tally to four goals in three games…
Watch: LFC Women 4-0 Charlton - highlights
Two goals and she hit the bar – Furney’s just incredible. I don’t know what else to say to you about her because I’m really impressed with her. Hopefully there’s more goals to come and hopefully she can continue to push the team on the pitch like she has done so far in every game.
On Linnett netting her first goal of the season after arriving off the bench…
Incredible for Kirsty. It’s so difficult when you are sat there on the bench and you want to be starting, then an injury happens and you want to be that name called up when Rhiannon Roberts had to go off. But to then still have that positivity and come on late in the game and make it 4-0, I was really proud of Kirsty. Hopefully she can take lots from that because I certainly have.
On the positive impact of youngster Missy Bo Kearns, who came on into midfield in place of the injured Roberts…
The only Scouser in our team! She did really well. There’s lots she can learn from that game when we review it with her but it was the right game to put Bo on in the middle and let her have a feel for what senior football is all about. I think she held her own, she made some intelligent passes. She had opportunities that she could have taken herself and had a shot which we spoke about at half-time. I trusted her to take our set-pieces because she shows in training that she can deliver a great free-kick. The future is bright for Bo if she continues working hard like she does.
On a debut for New Zealand international Moore off the bench…
It’s hard to change your centre-back pairing during a game but at 3-0 it was the right time to get Meikayla on and get minutes because minutes are important and helps you to break the ice when you have come to a new team. I thought she did really well and then to get herself up and be a part of the goal that led to Kirsty’s finish was great for her and hopefully that will settle her nerves now she’s had her debut and hopefully she can push on from there.