Liverpool Women secured another convincing pre-season victory this week, defeating Birmingham City 4-0 at the Knighthead Performance Centre. The result means Matt Beard's side have now won all four of their summer friendlies without conceding a single goal, building strong momentum after finishing 11th in the FA WSL last season with 17 points.
According to a report from the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.com, the scoring started in the first half. Aurélie Csillag set up Cornelia Kapocs for the opener before Vivien Endemann turned provider for Ceri Holland to double the lead. After making four changes at the break, Liverpool added two more after the hour mark. Substitute Anna Josendal assisted Mao Itamura for the third, and another substitute, Marie Höbinger, teed up Zara Shaw to complete the 4-0 scoreline.
Who scored for Liverpool Women?
Four different players found the net in a display of attacking depth. Cornelia Kapocs opened the scoring, with Ceri Holland adding a second before halftime. After the interval, Mao Itamura and Zara Shaw both came off the bench to score. The assists came from a mix of starters and substitutes, highlighting contributions across the squad. Ella Jones also forced a save late on as Liverpool pushed for more.
How did the team line up and change?
Manager Matt Beard used the friendly to assess his options, making ten substitutions in total. Grace Breen and Aurélie Csillag were the only outfield players to complete the full 90 minutes. Four changes were made at halftime, with Natalia Ramos, Alice Bergstrom, Kirsty Maclean and Marie Höbinger entering the fray. A further six alterations came at the 60-minute mark, including a goalkeeper switch that saw Sophie Kirby replace Rachael Keating.
Starting defenders Megan Kerr, Alejandra Bernabe and Jasmine Clark all played an hour, while midfielders Fuka Nagano and Vivien Endemann were withdrawn at the break. The extensive rotation provided valuable minutes for the entire group as they prepare for the league season.
What does this mean for the new season?
The dominant pre-season form offers optimism for a squad looking to improve on a difficult 2025 campaign. Last term, Liverpool Women scored 21 goals but conceded 34, finishing 38 points behind champions Manchester City. This clean defensive record in friendlies is a positive foundation. The team's upcoming schedule is available on our fixtures page.
Building cohesion and fitness appears to be the primary focus, with multiple players getting opportunities in different combinations. The squad depth shown against Birmingham will be important over a long WSL season. Fans can view the full roster competing for places on our squad page. With the new league campaign approaching, these performances suggest the team is in a confident mood to address last season's shortcomings.
