InterviewNiamh Fahey on producing a response, Arsenal and competing for her place
Liverpool FC Women captain Niamh Fahey has spoken of the collective desire within the squad to put last weekend’s disappointment behind them when they host Arsenal Women in their first home game of 2024.
The 5-1 loss at Manchester City Women was a tough one to take for the Reds and they face another stern test on Sunday against another side in the top three of the Barclays Women’s Super League.
It has been a frustrating campaign on a personal level so far for Fahey, having had spells on the sidelines with a calf problem.
Now fully fit, the No.5 is determined to give it everything she has got to help Matt Beard’s side fulfil their goals this season.
Read on as Fahey speaks with Liverpoolfc.com about the importance of putting the City loss to the back of their minds, staying focused on the job ahead and her determination to earn a place in the team…
On the squad’s determination to bounce back after the City loss…
Obviously we were very disappointed with last weekend. We were far from at our best but we have to get over it quick. It’s football and the good thing is we have a chance to redeem ourselves this weekend. It’s a tough test obviously against Arsenal but we’ve had setbacks in the past in this group and we’ve responded well, so we need to do the same again on Sunday.
On the disappointing goals conceded last weekend…
We’ve been excellent I think this year, especially defensively. Collectively we all have a responsibility but we were disappointed with the nature of the goals. It’s football, you can have an off-day, it happens, so the most important thing now is that we bounce back.
On what has been the main focus on the training field at the AXA Melwood Training Centre this week…
It’s about getting back to basics really, reminding ourselves what we’ve been good at this season because we are having a really good season, so it’s reminding ourselves what’s working for us and getting back to those principles. We’ve had a good week training, so we are getting ready now and I think we are in a good place now ready to take on Arsenal on Sunday.
On being seven points better off than they were last season in the WSL and knowing how to beat these top teams…
For sure. I think we’ve made another step this season, it’s been a project and we’ve taken big steps. Going away to Arsenal and winning, beating Manchester United away as well. We’ve done really well. We’ve had one or two ups and downs recently, like Manchester City last week. And then a few points we felt we could have got more away from home, like Tottenham and West Ham, for example. So, we are improving all the time. There’s been good growth this year and we just need to continue to keep pushing forward.
On the challenge of the WSL and facing City and Arsenal back-to-back…
It’s such a competitive league and you see other teams have strengthened and brought in a lot of players as well. Every game is tough and this particular run is very tough for us. We need to be ready, we are a tight group, we are focused, so we need to go game by game and it’s a fresh start for us against Arsenal and we need to be ready.
On a great win away at Arsenal at Emirates Stadium at the start of the season…
It was a fantastic opening day of the season at the Emirates, a massive crowd and our section of supporters at the away end having a great time celebrating the win. It’s a very distant memory obviously right now for the focus. But it was a fantastic way to start our season, so we need to take confidence from how we have played this year, especially against the top sides the majority of times. So, we are going to look forward to Sunday and [will] be ready.
On how she is feeling after missing a lot of game time so far this season due to a calf problem…
I’m good thankfully and hopefully my calf injuries are behind me. It has been a very frustrating time for me personally but I’m in a good place now and have had a good couple of weeks training back with the group, so it’s nearly like a fresh start to the season for me now coming back in. So, I am enjoying my football again. I just have to be ready for whenever I’m needed.
On working hard to get a place in the team…
I’ve been used to starting week in, week out and obviously this season I’ve played a peripheral role looking on and my injuries haven’t helped with that as well. I’ve had to get used to it, it’s part of it but I’m just focused on what I can control and that’s being the best I can be in training and putting as much pressure on as I can on those playing in front of me and driving standards as well – that’s important. The more competitive it is, the better it pushes everybody and that’s just how I’ve kind of gone about it and that’s all I can continue to do. Be there for the team and prove myself and keep pushing hard.
On how hard it is as a footballer to not be able to contribute…
Yes, it’s the most frustrating thing. I mean, I’ve had to deal with it this year particularly a lot. It is the most frustrating thing because you train every week and you are training to play. So when you don’t get the chance to play, it’s very hard to deal with that mentally. Every player will tell you the most frustrating part is not being able to participate on game day, so I suppose it’s part and parcel of being a footballer and you have to be able to deal with it.
On Leanne Kiernan being back on the grass again after a frustrating time for the striker…
I’m delighted for her. She has had such a tough time with injury and little setbacks here and there as well after coming back. So to see her back with a smile on her face, it’s fantastic. And again, hopefully for Leanne now she can kick on and her injury woes will be behind her because she is such a fantastic player. She just needs a good run and a lucky run but sometimes that happens in football and you get a couple of niggles altogether, then all of a sudden you are back flying fit. So, it’s great to have her back with us.
On being back in front of home supporters for the first time in 2024 on Sunday…
We’ve got our heads down this week. It was tough to take at Manchester City but we’ve regrouped, we’ve refocused and we are ready to put our best side out. With our fans behind us, like they always have been, getting behind us especially in our tougher times, they will give us that extra boost we need because it’s going to be a really tough game, but we will be ready.
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