Tuesday 24 November 2015

Ingrid Ryland and Line Smorsgard leave Liverpool

Norwegian duo Ingrid Ryland and Line Smorsgard completed the set of players announced to have been released by Liverpool earlier this afternoon.


The pair arrived last winter as Matt Beard looked to bolster his squad for the 2015 campaign however injuries limited their time on the pitch.

Line scored in one of the most memorable games of this season, netting the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Manchester City back in April - almost doubling her tally minutes later.

Ingrid hit form towards the end of the season, named Player on the Match on multiple occasions by followers of LFCladiesfans and wrote a fantastic blog which she shared over the weekend detailing her time in Liverpool. Read that here.

Good luck to both players in the future, wishing you both all the best with your next clubs. You'll never walk alone.

Katrin Omarsdottir to depart the Reds

After 3 years at Liverpool Ladies, Katrin Omarsdottir was one of a quartet to be released earlier today by the club along with Becky Easton, Ingrid Ryland and Line Smorsgard.


Like Easton, Katrin joined Liverpool as Matt Beard overhauled his starting 11 - signing in January 2013 - and formed a formidable partnership in the Reds midfield alongside Fara Williams.

An excellent reader of the game and an imposing presence to have in the side, Katrin scored the goal that sealed Liverpool Ladies first league title after also scoring a rocket of a goal in the crucial 4-3 victory against Bristol Academy weeks earlier.

The midfielder missed the first half of this season due to concussion, returning in July and scoring an important goal against Sunderland Ladies to book Liverpool's Continental Cup quarter-final spot.

Katrin released a statement via Twitter which you can read below:

"As people are aware now I am leaving Liverpool. Scott and I spoke and we both came to the conclusion that the best thing for me at this moment in time is to leave Liverpool.

Thinking of the past 3 years at the club is emotional. The support I've received from the staff and the players on the team has been immense. Being a part of this team is one of the best things that's happened to me. Matt has been great from day one and the staff around him. Kirsty, Kat, Pottsie, Scott and Luke. We all succeeded because we were one team and believed in each other.

The character of this team is something I cherish, admire and will always remember. It's a group of people great at their profession and good people as well. I've built friendships for life and I am so proud to look back and see that we've won 2 championship titles in a row with no one expecting us to. Except us I guess. And our dedicated fans.

But life goes on and you continue to develop and grow. I am excited for my next challenge and will look to build on the experiences I've had with Liverpool.

I just want to thank our dedicated fans who have always been there and they will always have a place in my heart, and so does the club. I've been a Liverpool supporter since I was 5 and I will continue to be one for the rest of my life. Thank you Liverpool. You'll never walk alone."

A classy statement from a classy player. I look forward to seeing where Katrin goes next and continuing to support her in her career. Best of luck! 

Becky Easton to leave Liverpool

BECKY EASTON has been released by Liverpool Ladies following the expiration of her contract it was announced by the club earlier today.


A true Red, a Liverpool supporter in her second spell with the club (previously turning out for the club between 1994-97) after returning towards the end of 2012 as part of the Matt Beard revolution that saw the defender win 2 league titles in 2 years.

Named the Official Liverpool Ladies Supporters Player of the Year in 2014 after a storming campaign, one in which Liverpool kept 9 clean sheets in 14 league games to retain the title for the second successive year.

Becky is a tough-tackling, no-nonsense defender who will be sorely missed by all supporters of Liverpool, her crunching sliding challenges a real highlight along with her leadership on the pitch.

Despite a disappointing campaign Becky still stood out on the pitch, even scoring her first goal (at least during the second spell!) in the performance of the season by the team as Liverpool beat Arsenal 3-1 away.

On Friday night at the club's end of season awards Becky was named Vitality Player of the Year, the awards that "takes into consideration an individual’s high fitness levels, staying active inside and outside of football as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle." and no doubt has plenty of football left in her - I'd like to wish her the best with her next venture and hopefully we will see her return to the club in some capacity in the future.

Monday 23 November 2015

LIBBY STOUT SIGNS FOR BOSTON BREAKERS

LIVERPOOL LADIES today announced that goalkeeper Libby Stout has departed the club and will join up with Matt Beard at Boston Breakers, following the earlier announcement that Boston had also signed former Reds defender Whitney Engen.


Joining Liverpool from BV Cloppenburg in January 2014, Libby ironically made her home debut for the opposite side - a pre-season friendly against Doncaster saw them without a keeper, with Stout playing the first 45 against Liverpool and fellow keeper Danielle Gibbons the second.

From her competitive debut against Sunderland in The FA Cup it was clear Liverpool had made an excellent signing with a fantastic fingertip save on the stroke of half-time poking the ball wide, supporters were treated to many more over the next 2 years.

The no.1 went on to play a huge part in the Reds retention of their 2014 Women's Super League title, keeping 9 clean sheets in a total 18 appearances and at the end of the campaign was voted @LFCladiesfans Signing of the Season.

Libby will be missed at Liverpool and I'd like to wish her all the best back in the US!