Manager’s Notes
Before turning our attention to tonight’s game, I want to take a moment to remember Matt Beard, who sadly passed away over the weekend at such a young age.
Matt was an extraordinary person. As a manager, he made a lasting impact on women’s football, and on a personal level he was cherished and respected by so many within and beyond the sport. To his wife Debbie and their children Harry, Ellie, and Scott, he was a devoted husband and father.
Here at Liverpool, Matt was admired and loved. During his first spell with our women’s team, he guided them to back-to-back league titles, and on his return he led the side to promotion. These achievements speak for themselves, but perhaps even more powerful are the many heartfelt tributes we have seen since his passing. Only someone very special could inspire such affection and respect.
Before kickoff this evening, the club will pay tribute to Matt in recognition of all he gave to Liverpool and to football more widely. On behalf of the men’s team, I offer our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Turning now to tonight’s match: we arrive here on the back of a derby win against Everton, a result that extended a promising start to our season while reminding us that there is always room to grow.
That victory was especially pleasing given the demanding run of fixtures we had — Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Naturally, our energy levels fluctuated during that period, but the players’ resilience and togetherness saw us through. Winning under those circumstances was a real demonstration of the squad’s mentality.
With such a heavy schedule, we will make changes this evening. I can’t say yet how many, but whichever XI takes the field will be ready for a difficult test against Southampton — a side we know well after three meetings last season.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to Will Still, his staff, players, and all Southampton supporters visiting Anfield tonight. Despite competing in different divisions this season, we expect a challenging contest.
Last year we were disappointed to fall short in the final, but we also showed our strength in this competition. Our ambition is the same this season: to compete for every trophy. Beginning this Carabao Cup campaign here at Anfield, in front of our supporters, is an opportunity we’re determined to embrace.
