Liverpool fc women
Rhiannon Ready to Kick On
A tough start to the campaign saw Vicky Jepson's team narrowly beaten in their opening three Barclays FA Women's Super League games. They faced Bristol City Women FC in mid-October and despite falling behind to a fortuitous goal, the Reds dominated proceedings and earned their reward with a second-half penalty from summer recruit Melissa Lawley.
“It was a really good performance from the team that day and hopefully that can be the catalyst for us to push on and gain some momentum,” Rhiannon told YNWA.
“When we watched the game back at the training ground, we were a little bit gutted that we were not able to take all three points. It was a difficult goal to concede – I'm not sure their player meant it as a shot and there wasn’t really much fault of our own on it – but we created a lot of chances and did quite well going forward. We stuck to the game plan and I really thought we were going to nick a winner at the end.”
The Reds' November schedule includes a derby date with Everton Women and a trip to Arsenal Women as well as Continental Cup trips to FA Women's Championship sides Aston Villa Women FC and Blackburn Rovers Ladies FC, one of Rhiannon's former clubs.
“That Bristol City game has to be a turning point for us now and one from which we can kick-start our season,” she says. “We've got that point on the board and now we have a good run of games where hopefully we can kick on.”
Rhiannon was pleased to see Lawley net her first goal for the Club and was also thrilled for German goalkeeper Anke Preuss, who became the first recipient of the Standard Chartered Liverpool FC Women's Player of the Month award for her displays throughout September.
“It was nice for Mel to get off the mark and she’s done really well for us since she’s come in,” says Rhiannon. “She showed her quality throughout pre-season and has carried that on at the start of this season. It was also great to see Anke receive her award because those kind of honours normally go to the strikers! Again, Anke is a really important player for us and it's nice to see her receive that recognition.”
Welsh international Rhiannon has a new partner in the defensive midfield duties this season following the summer arrival of former Chelsea FC Women player Jade Bailey and she feels their partnership is starting to click.
“We did a lot of work in pre-season together but I missed the first few games of the season through injury and then Jade was suspended when I came back from injury,” she explains. “So the Bristol game was the first league match where we have both started and it was nice to get on the pitch together. We’re quite similar players but I think we complement each other quite well so hopefully we can continue that going forward.”
Rhiannon also believes the duo's attention to defensive detail allows the Reds' front four further freedom to express themselves in advanced positions. “I think it just gives our forward players the run to go and do what they do and have that fluidity in the team."
“At the end of the day, we need to stop goals going in as the defensive-minded players and they need to try and create something for us and hopefully that will work for us this season.”
