LFC WomenLeanne Kiernan a double record-breaker after stunning start to 2022
Liverpool FC Women striker Leanne Kiernan will return to Prenton Park for the first time in 2022 on Sunday as a double record-breaker after a stunning start to the year.
The Irish forward fired a six-minute hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers Ladies last weekend as the Reds returned to action with a spectacular 6-0 win.
Kiernan's treble helped write her into the record books with the fastest hat-trick for LFC Women on record, easily beating Natasha Dowie's 20-minute effort against Doncaster Rovers Belles in August 2013.
It is also the first LFC Women hat-trick since Rinsola Babajide scored four on the same ground in an 8-1 FA Cup victory over Blackburn on January 27, 2020.
Kiernan also established a second record when she scored her first goal on Sunday – a spectacular curler – as it marked the fifth successive away game in which she had netted.
The previous record stood at three, held jointly by Katie Zelem in 2016 and former Reds captain Gemma Bonner in the Spring Series of 2017.
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Speaking on this week's Championship Show, the 22-year-old was asked the secret behind the 15-match unbeaten run for Matt Beard's side.
She said: "I guess just not getting too complacent, knowing our role on the pitch when it comes to Sundays.
"It's not just the starting team, it's every day in training from the whole squad and the staff. Everybody has been brilliant in putting in a lot of hard work and it's paying off.
"It's massive for me as a No.9 to get some goals and it keeps my confidence high."
Kiernan is also determined there should be even better to come and has made a point of committing her targets to paper, while also adopting some New Year's resolutions.
"I wrote a few goals down for the next few months for what I'd like to achieve, so let's hope all goes well," she continued.
"They [the resolutions] are pretty basic, things I needed to work on. My sleep pattern hasn't been great – I'm quite a night owl! I want to work on getting eight hours.
"And making more contact with friends, calling friends. I get caught up in training all the time. I'm not a great texter, so leaving my off days for more phone calls with friends and family."
Kiernan and the rest of the LFC Women squad are back in action at 2pm GMT on Sunday against Watford at Prenton Park, where they will hope to further improve on their situation at the top of the FA Women's Championship.
Tickets are on sale now at www.liverpoolfc.com/women-tickets.