'Signing for LFC Women was massive - I'll never take it for granted'
New Zealand international Meikayla Moore has spoken about how settled she feels at Liverpool FC Women as the Reds aim to continue their resurgent form in the FA Women’s Championship.
After back-to-back victories and successive clean sheets against London Bees and Crystal Palace, confidence in the squad is high under interim boss Amber Whiteley.
After arriving at Liverpool from German side MSV Duisburg at the start of 2020-21, the 24-year-old has formed a solid central-defensive partnership with captain Niamh Fahey.
With five games left to play in the FA Women’s Championship, plus an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Leicester City, Moore believes the team are capable of finishing this campaign strongly.
Coventry United Ladies are the next challenge in waiting for the Reds at Prenton Park on Sunday – a game you can watch live via LFCTV GO, YouTube or the official LFC Women Facebook and Twitter accounts from 1.55pm GMT.
Read on as Moore reflects on a good win at Crystal Palace last weekend and tells us why she feels at home with Liverpool FC Women…
On taking all three points from a tough away encounter at Crystal Palace…
We faced a strong Palace team so it was important for us just to stick to the game plan. We stuck to it and managed to do so and it was another really important three ponts for us.
On a great set-piece from Missy Bo Kearns that allowed captain Niamh Fahey to score with a superb header…
She’s been practising that one in training, so for her to get on the scoresheet was massive and she is awesome. Bo Kearns put in a great ball and she also practises them in training, so you can see the consistency is paying off and the connection was there with Niamh.
On keeping a couple of clean sheets on the bounce…
Massive. As a defender, that’s your job, first and foremost, and I think Niamh would agree with me in saying that. Even our goalkeeper Lawsy would say that too. Every game we go into that’s the plan: to keep the clean sheet. It’s what we want to achieve and if we can do our part then the rest is up to the rest of the girls.
On how much she is enjoying playing alongside Fahey at the back…
I’m enjoying it immensely. Niamh has got a lot of talent and a lot of experience, so I’m continuing to learn off her and bounce ideas from her. Our partnership is working well. Niamh is our captain and she has been at the club for a while now. She is a massive Liverpool fan and you can see how well she conducts herself on and off the pitch. It helps me playing alongside her and working with her.
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On trying to get as many wins as possible between now and the end of the season…
I think that’s so important for us to continue how we’ve been going in our last couple of games. Hopefully we can go on a winning streak and keep putting in the performances that warrant the three points.
On feeling stronger now as a Liverpool player following her summer move to Merseyside…
Absolutely. With more time on the field and more sessions out on the grass, I’m feeling more comfortable here. There’s a lot of good talent in this squad and competition for places is high, so when I do get the opportunity to put on the shirt and play I don’t take it for granted. This is a massive club, so each time I get the chance I always try my best. I’m beginning to feel really comfortable here and hopefully that continues. I look back on this season fondly from a personal point of view. It has been a challenging time for all and I hope we can continue to do well in the games that we have coming up. Signing for Liverpool was always a massive achievement for me and a massive step in my career, so I’m really enjoying my time here.
On working under interim boss Whiteley…
I'm really enjoying it. From a positive point of view, she is really installing a culture and that transfers onto the pitch and we have got good momentum and confidence. I think you can see that from the way we are playing and the collectiveness that we have on and off the pitch.
On Sunday’s meeting with Coventry United…
It’s so important. We want to continue the momentum that we’ve started with the previous two games. Prenton Park is our home turf so we want to give our all and hopefully get the job done.
On the great competition for places now with key players back from injury…
You want that and you need that in the team. You want competition for places and that’s what Amber wants. It’s so good that we’ve got a large squad available again. The competition for places is tight but that’s very important.