Programme notesNiamh Fahey: We have to bring the best version of ourselves
Niamh Fahey wants Liverpool FC Women to bring the ‘best version’ of themselves against West Ham United in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.
The Reds host the Hammers at Prenton Park in a 12pm GMT kick-off, looking to return to winning ways after last week’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup defeat.
In her captain’s column in the matchday programme, Fahey writes: “Last Saturday’s FA Cup exit against Leicester City was a really disappointing day for us. We weren’t anywhere near the levels that we’re capable of and so we were very frustrated because we really wanted to progress through to the semi-final. For whatever reason, we weren’t good enough on the day.
“That game has gone now and the only thing we can do is look to respond positively and so it’s all about the next game. It’s back to the league with another three points up for grabs and that’s what we’ll be going for. It’s important that we bounce back quickly, as the girls have tended to do whenever we’ve had a blip this season. We’ve been focused on having a good training week and working hard to get ready for the test posed by West Ham.
“Like a number of teams, West Ham strengthened after Christmas, and they will be a different team to the one we faced away from home in the first month of the season.
“They have brought in a lot of experience during the window and have already picked up some really good results in beating Arsenal and drawing with Manchester United. However, we have to focus on ourselves and make sure we’re ready to bring the best version of ourselves.
“We’re having a good season and have already surpassed last season’s points tally so it’s been progress again, but we are fully aware that we’re not the finished article or where we want to be yet.
“However, we have been making progress every year and it’s good to have continued that. Now we want to keep pushing on to finish as high up the table as possible and see if we can break into that top four. To do that it’s about taking small steps and taking one game at a time and first up it is West Ham.
“Ceri Holland should be available again after serving her suspension and it will be great to have her back. The whole sending-off at Brighton was unlucky in the first place so she’ll be raring to go. Ceri’s a big player for us and it’ll be great to have her energy back as well so that’s a big positive for us.
“Sunday is St Patrick’s Day so hopefully Irish eyes will be smiling on us! It will be an extra-special day for myself, Leanne Kiernan, our strength and conditioning coach Colm Smith, and all our Irish fans if we can get the win, so we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure it’s a good one.”
