LFC WomenWSL preview: ‘We want to play against the top sides and test ourselves’
Liverpool FC Women duo Gemma Bonner and Megan Campbell can’t wait for the test Manchester United will pose in their first outing of 2023.
Matt Beard’s side travel to Leigh Sports Village on Sunday to take on their rivals, with kick-off set for 2.05pm GMT.
Marc Skinner’s United are flying high in the Barclays Women’s Super League this season, currently sitting in third place and only five points from top spot with a game in hand.
The Reds are ninth in the WSL so far and enter the clash unbeaten in their last three top-flight games.
With an away contest at leaders Chelsea the following Sunday, the challenges keep coming for the Reds, though Bonner and Campbell are relishing what's ahead.
Speaking on the latest edition of the LFC Women's Show, Republic of Ireland international Campbell said: “I’m looking forward to it.
“You want to play against the top teams and test yourselves against the best teams that are out there, so you want to see where you are at.
“For us, it’s our first year back in the division and we’ve learned a lot from it so far, but there’s a long way to go and I think we can only get better as the rest of the season carries on.”
LFC Women's Show: Bonner's return, WhatsApp groups & 'The Long Throw-in Girl'
Bonner could be set for a second Liverpool debut against United, having returned to the club at the start of the New Year.
The defender, who was previously with Racing Louisville in the USA, has made a seamless transition back to her Reds roots.
“I’m so excited to be back and I can’t wait to put on the red shirt again,” she said.
“It’s so important having a good team and people that support each other because you can have the best players in the world, but you need a good team.
“I knew that coming back this group already has a strong foundation and it’s going to need the whole squad for us to be successful.
“We’ve got a busy month ahead but I’m excited. I’ve watched this league since I’ve been away and seen it grow, and there’s all the top players playing in this league.
“As a player you want to be testing yourself and you want to be playing in these games and I think the pressure, the intensity of these games has just gone up another level.
“It will take good hard graft but I think we are all very much aware of the situation we are in as a team.
“We almost embrace the fact that we have to work hard to win the games because we can’t just turn up and expect to win.
“So, I’m looking forward to the challenge of being up against it but also knowing that we have the quality to go and cause teams problems.”
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