Rhiannon Roberts: Liverpool able to show Women’s Super League endurance in ‘tasty’ Merseyside derby

“They’ve just maximised the situations,” Chelsea boss Emma Hayes stated when summarising her aspect’s opening weekend defeat to Liverpool. Sounds easy, would not it?

But nothing about beating reigning Women’s Super League champions Chelsea is straightforward. Far from it.

Two penalty kicks in the end determined the result, with Katie Stengel displaying nerves of metal to confidently dispatch each, cancelling out Fran Kirby’s opener.

Liverpool’s much-anticipated WSL return was a head-turner, not least as a result of Matt Beard’s aspect had did not get the higher of Chelsea since 2014. Not solely that, however the Blues had cruised to victory in every of their final 9 league outings – the joint-longest ongoing run within the competitors.

But legacy stats, typically compelling to onlookers and media folks, do not faze defender Rhiannon Roberts, affectionately recognized on Merseyside as ‘Razza’.

She needs to concentrate on the right here and now. Only then are you able to block out the encircling noise and focus on the “job at hand”. Only then are you able to develop into simply the second newly-promoted workforce to win their opening match of a WSL marketing campaign.

“Us as a team, we know we can compete in the Super League,” Roberts completely instructed Sky Sports. “The purpose was to get off to begin. The consequence wasn’t a shock to us.

“We’ve got the players and squad to do that to teams. A different result for other people, perhaps, but in our circle it wasn’t.

“The ladies have an ideal mindset. We work actually exhausting on restarts and resets [when falling behind in games]. We have been underneath the cosh after conceding however everybody simply targeted on the job at hand. We’re in a extremely good place on the minute.”

The Merseyside membership are again within the prime flight after a two-year hiatus, having dropped out of the WSL in 2020. It was a tumultuous chapter, outlined by fractious relationships and inadequate assist, in addition to a world pandemic.

Even Jurgen Klopp has beforehand admitted that Liverpool FC was “not famous for treating women’s football outstandingly well”.

2022-23 marks a unique period, although. Beard’s aspect have risen from the ashes stronger than ever earlier than, as evidenced by final week’s spectacular Chelsea takedown.

But the consequence, eye-catching because it was, got here as little shock to Roberts after cruising emphatically to the Women’s Championship crown final time period – ending 11 factors away from nearest competitor London City.

It initiated a brand new daybreak for Liverpool Women. One that hopes to supersede lots of people who went earlier than it.

“We want to inject pace into games,” Robers stated.

“Off the back of the Euros, we’re going to see higher attendances and we want to entertain. There’s been a real progression in the women’s game over the past couple of years.

“This season particularly the league is so aggressive. Teams are going to take factors off one another up and down the desk.

“I don’t think it should be a shock to see teams who are traditionally strong in the WSL losing out on points. It sends a message. Aston Villa also beat Man City on opening weekend.

“It’s a extremely thrilling begin to the WSL and simply exhibits how different golf equipment have caught up. It’s 11 versus 11 on the pitch, with exhausting work and togetherness there isn’t any purpose why you may’t try to take three factors from every sport. That’s our mentality.”

Sunday twenty fifth September 6:30pm


Kick off 6:45pm

Winning could be like forex in soccer phrases. Often one victory can breed many extra. For Roberts, a marketing campaign suffering from conquests such because the one simply gone, has served as the right tonic for a membership that had beforehand endured a interval of isolation and hardship.

Liverpool have skilled considerably of a rebirth. Once solid apart, the two-time WSL champions are actually making ready for a Merseyside derby which will probably be staged on the hallowed Anfield turf. The buzz has returned and the urge for food to compete has by no means been more healthy, Roberts explains.

“Last season we got into the rhythm of winning. You can’t replace the feeling of winning every week.

“Matt [Beard] at all times inform us, ‘do not forget you are still champions’. It offers us a lift going into video games. Hopefully we are able to create a little bit of ahead momentum now. Beating Chelsea offers us perception – it exhibits we are able to compete.

“Our success is built on togetherness. We’ve got good quality, but we’ve also got good people. That’s helped create a positive environment for individuals to thrive.

“If you are glad off the pitch the vast majority of the time you are glad on it. That’s once we’ve began to play our greatest soccer.”

This weekend, extra than simply factors are at stake. Pride is on the road. The Reds tackle the blue half of Liverpool at Anfield, stay on Sky Sports. It’s a sport that Roberts and her teammates have been drawn to because the minute fixture lists have been launched over the summer season.

An event, brimming with alternative, that tends to divide households in the identical means the river Mersey cuts via the vastness of the northwest.

“It’s the fixture that you look for,” the defender stated with a pang of pleasure. “If playing a Merseyside derby at Anfield isn’t fuel, I don’t know what is. Everyone is buzzing. It’s a big occasion.

“I performed within the fixture in 2019 and it was unbelievable. The massive crowd was superb. We’d like as many individuals at Anfield as potential as a result of we thrive off that. It makes an enormous distinction.

“I remember there being over 23,000 in the ground the last time we played Everton and it felt packed.”

She added: “We want to be focussed. Soak in the occasion. But we want to pick up points, ultimately. We set ourselves targets for the first five games and then targets up until Christmas. We’ve got high standards.

“We’re actually wanting ahead to being underneath the lights, on a grass carpet, it should be unbelievable. Hopefully some tasty tackles in there – it’s a derby in any case.”

How to follow the WSL on Sky Sports…

Sky Sports – All 35 games will be available across Sky Sports’ flagship channels, including Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.

Sky Sports News – Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Barclays FA WSL fans can enjoy Sky Sports News (channel 409) rolling editorial coverage of the league and its storylines throughout the season.

Inside the WSL – Hosted by award-winning broadcaster and journalist Jessica Creighton, Inside the WSL is a comprehensive round-up of all things Barclays FA Women’s Super League and women’s football. Airing weekly on Sky Sports Premier League, the half-an-hour show will review and preview matches, including in-depth analysis and exclusive player interviews. Viewers can expect gripping behind-the-scenes access as well as a summary of all the action both on and off the pitch.

Sky Sports Social – Alongside coverage and visibility for the league across all Sky Sports’ main social media channels, the bespoke Twitter channel @SkySportsWSL will proceed to be the house of all Barclays FA WSL content material on Sky Sports.

New to the 2022/23 season, the Sky Sports WSL TikTok account will probably be giving followers 360° protection of the league and granting them unique entry to their new favorite gamers. Also a primary for the league, a brand new Snapchat Discover present The Dub goals to develop into the platform’s new hub for Barclays’ WSL content material.

Sky Showcase – All Sky prospects will profit from with the ability to watch the opening weekend fixtures on Sky Showcase (channel 106) with out a Sky Sports subscription. This channel is designed to curate a few of the prime exhibits, movies and sports activities from throughout Sky’s channels.

Sky Sports digital – Follow all the newest from the WSL throughout SkySports.com and app, together with unique options and interviews, plus devoted stay weblog protection and in-game clips from video games stay on Sky Sports. You can watch free match highlights from each WSL sport this season on Sky Sports’ digital platforms and YouTube channel.