LFC WomenGemma Bonner on United finale, feeling sharp and loving LFC life
Gemma Bonner is loving life back on Merseyside since her January return to Liverpool FC Women.
As Matt Beard’s side prepare to bring the curtain down on the 2022-23 season on Saturday, the Reds No.23 wishes the campaign would continue for longer.
Bonner has been a mainstay of the team’s backline following her return and helped the club preserve their Barclays Women’s Super League status for another season.
“I think the season has flown by, especially since I’ve come back to Liverpool,” the defender told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I’ve loved being back, this club means so much to me and I think it took me a while to adapt and getting back into this league and playing with different players and different formations.
“I almost feel like I’m getting my rhythm again just as the season is finishing.
“It’s a credit to the girls who made me feel back at home straight away and we almost don’t want the season to end in terms of the run that we’ve been on, but it’s only positives to build on for next season and I’m sure everybody will come back ready and raring to go.”
Highlights: Aston Villa 3-3 LFC Women
The Reds side showed another glimpse of their potential last weekend when they played out a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
After losing an early goal, Beard’s charges responded superbly as they took a 3-2 lead, but they just couldn’t hold on and had to settle for a point.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game going into it as Villa are a team in form this season and they have got a lot of quality players all over the pitch,” said Bonner.
“We also knew coming into the game we were confident because we went into it off the back of some great performances and great results, so it was always going to be a test for both teams.
“For us, we used it as a building block and in the end we were disappointed not to get our first away win in the WSL this season, but I thought we came away from it giving a good account of ourselves, especially coming back from going a goal down early on.
“We scored some great goals on the day and we’ve been working on that in training. We always know that there is a lot of potential in this group and it is just kind of getting that out on a gameday.
“I think we have definitely shown in parts this season how good we can be and going into next season we’ve got to get that on a more consistent basis and do it more in the games where it counts.
“Ultimately we were disappointed with the goals we conceded but it was a great game for the neutral and we want to build on that and finish the season strongly on Saturday.”
Manchester United head to Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm BST), with Marc Skinner’s side still eyeing the WSL title.
Leaders Chelsea are away at Reading, while United, two points behind the Londoners, will arrive at Prenton Park with a strong away support.
Back in January, United put six past Liverpool on a disappointing day for Bonner and co, though she believes the memories from that clash will drive the team on as they look to end 2022-23 on a positive note.
“We were really disappointed with that game back in January,” she added. “I don’t think we gave a good account of ourselves and that’s something that has always been in the back of our minds and we want to make sure we put that right on Saturday.
“I think we let the fans down that day and there’s no better way than to go out there in our final game at home this season and really put pride in that shirt again.
“Obviously they’ve got a lot to play for, but for us we’ve shown in the past few games that playing against the top teams we don’t make it easy for them.
“We know what we’ve got to do. We’ve got players fighting for spaces in the team and we want to give ourselves the best chance of trying to win this game, give the fans something to cheer about and end the season on a high.
“The pressure is on Manchester United on Saturday. We’ve always said that there is no pressure on us within our group, we know we are safe in the WSL but we also want to build and show what we are all about on Saturday. That’s the thing that is so good about this group because we all want to improve.
“We like being the underdog and our fans have been absolutely superb all season, like they always are, and I know we will have a huge following supporting us on Saturday and I’m sure they will all be encouraging us to go out there and give the best account that we can.”