NewsGemma Bonner named LFC Women Player of the Month for November

The 32-year-old netted two goals during the month, getting on the scoresheet in the Continental League Cup tie with Manchester City and then in the 4-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

It was also a proud month for Bonner as she broke the club’s all-time appearance record in the WSL era, receiving a special presentation in the last home game against Brighton.

Bonner received her award at the AXA Melwood Training Centre on Friday after manager Matt Beard gave her the news in a team meeting to rapturous applause from the squad.

• Get your tickets for LFC Women v Bristol City on Sunday here

The defender told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’m delighted to get the award and it’s a big thank you to the fans for voting for me.

“The fans have been incredible for us throughout the season, especially the last month, and their support in our home and away games definitely plays a huge part for us as players.

“Since I’ve been here, right from the beginning they have supported me and even when I was away from here too. I have always been grateful for their support and I know how much it means for the girls to have such incredible support home and away with them behind us all of the time.”

The No.23 was presented with a framed shirt from club legend Ian Callaghan, the men’s team’s all-time leading appearance maker, to celebrate her record-breaking tally in a red shirt.

“It’s an extremely proud achievement that I probably won’t realise what I’ve done now until I look back on it in a few years,” Bonner reflected. “For the moment now I’m feeling good and I want to get as many games as I can under my belt.

“There’s a great feeling around the place and obviously being back at the AXA Melwood Training Centre has helped that. We are producing good performances as a team and we are probably exceeding a few people’s expectations so far.

“So for me it’s about keep working hard every single day and keep being the best I can be, as I know I’ve still got a lot more to go.”

Although Bonner is happiest when she contributes to helping the team keep a clean sheet, like in the last game against Brighton, she is also a big threat from set-pieces.

“Obviously it’s my job to keep the ball out the back of the net but I also know I can pose a threat in the opposition box,” she said.

“I’ve been giving Pottsy [goalkeeping coach Joe Potts] a bit of stick to put me in the areas and I will score them, so I’ve been giving him stick and I’ve been scoring from them.

“But I’m just delighted that I can help the team and I think it’s a strength of the team, the quality of deliveries we have got from the wide areas, and it’s then up to the players in the box to finish them.”

Attention is now on Sunday’s final home game of 2023 as the Reds host Bristol City Women in front of the live LFCTV cameras, with kick-off set for 2pm GMT.

The away side include several former Liverpool players in their squad in Rachel Furness, Amy Rodgers, Amalie Thestrup and Satara Murray.

Matt Beard’s fifth-placed Reds are just two points off the top three in the WSL, and the players are determined to send their fans home happy for Christmas.

Bonner said: “Obviously they have got a few ex-Liverpool players in their camp and it’s always nice to see them and cross paths again, but for us it’s another important game.

“I think they have been growing from strength to strength since they came back into the WSL and we know it’s going to be a tough test, they will be hard to break down.

“But for us we want to carry on our good momentum we had before the international break.

“Prenton Park has been good for us, we know that as players and we love playing there and having the huge support from the fans behind us always helps. Whether that is on a Wednesday night when it’s cold and raining or a Sunday afternoon, they always come out and support us.

“We use that to our advantage, we know we have good form at home and we know our home form is important. We need to make sure we are ready for Sunday to make sure we get those three points.

“Hopefully we can get a good following out behind us and go into the Christmas break with a win at home and we want to send our supporters home happy.

“In our last game against Brighton, we scored four goals and kept a clean sheet, and that was probably our most complete performance this season and we want to build on that this Sunday.

“We’ve had a few players away on international duty and a few have remained here, so we have to make sure we are ready on Sunday.”

Standard Chartered Women's Player of the Month 2023-24

November: Gemma Bonner

October: Marie Höbinger