Yana Daniels latest to sign up with new-look Reds

Liverpool announced their third signing of the summer on Wednesday afternoon as Belgium winger Yana Daniëls joined Neil Redfearn's new-look Reds.

The lifelong Liverpool supporter spoke about having butterflies as she walked around Anfield on her signing day, explaining to LFCTVGO that growing up in Belgium "the English teams are quite big and I always liked Liverpool"

When Yana first heard of the Reds interest in her she thought "it can't be true that I can play there. I didn't think about it for a long time... it felt right to just go for it."

Yana has spent the last season at Bristol City, joining the Vixens after representing Belgium in last summer's UEFA European Championships and has played for her country at every age level - scoring six in 16 games in youth internationals.

Prior to joining Bristol, Yana had recently got back into playing football with Anderlecht having suffered a potentially career-ending injury and spending two years on the sidelines.

The Reds new attacker told Vavel;

“It was complicated, I tore my LCL three times and when I tore it again it wasn’t possible to just make it again because it was already torn so they did a different kind of surgery. So they broke my leg to put it in another position and take the pressure away and I needed three surgeries in a year. It took me two years and three months to get back and I’m so happy I’m back.

“Because of the breaking thing… it’s complicated because the position of your whole body is different, and they usually do it with old people so it’s not quite something they do with younger people especially not sports people, so they said the chance that you can play sport again is really low – especially at the high level. They said just focus on rehab and walking straight again, just normal things in life. That’s what I did so I didn’t think I was going to play again but I was on the team staff for two years – as a video analyst – so that was really cool, I thought that was how my passion for football would be in the future. But I missed playing so I tried again… it’s hard to let it go if you love it.”

I spoke to Bristol City Development Squad player Ellie Strippel to find out what Liverpool supporters can expect from Yana during this upcoming season.

Ellie says Yana is skilful, quick, direct and shows great positional sense - "can always count on her to be in the right place to score."

Having played alongside Yana, Ellie also said that you "can always rely on her to give 100% if she's in the first team or the development side."

A "proper team player, a good person to have around the team" who "always looks out for her team mates and is a great person to look up to for younger players.

These are sentiments echoed by Bristol match day volunteer Martin Radford who says "Yana will give 100% in every game. She's got goals in her and scored a couple of very good ones last season."

Of Yana and Jasmine (Matthews, who also joined this week from Bristol), Martin said "what you will get off the field are two very nice, very approachable players. Great with the fans and generally two lovely people."

Signing new players is always exciting and when that new player happens to support your club, I believe it makes it that little bit more special. 

To read the full Vavel article on Yana's comeback click here.

Liverpool Ladies 2018 Squad Numbers

1 - Anke Preuss
2 - Jasmine Matthews

3 - Leighanne Robe
4 - Razza Roberts

8 - Laura Coombs

9 - Jess Clarke

11 - Yana Daniels

12 - Leandra Little

15 - Cassia Pike

17 - Niamh Charles

18 - Ali Johnson

19 - Amy Rodgers

20 - Rinsola Babajide

21 - Naomi Hartley
23 - Becky Flaherty (GK)

25 - Paige Cole

26 - Ellie Fletcher

27 - Annabel Blanchard

36 - Ashley Hodson

40 - Lucy Roberts

44 - Satara Murray

First team twitter feed:

Tweets from https://twitter.com/LFCladiesfans/lists/liverpool-ladies

Reds revolution continues with arrival of Jasmine Matthews

Liverpool's revolution continued earlier today with the arrival of Bristol City defender Jasmine Matthews.

At the end of the 2017/18 campaign Jasmine picked up the Vixens Players' Player of the Season award and joins the Reds having spent her entire career at the South West club.

With a reputation across the Women's Super League as a steady, solid and reliable centre half, Jasmine is a past recipient of Bristol's Young Player of the Season. This honour notably coming in 2013 after a superb Bristol side battled Liverpool for the league title until the final game of the season.

Jasmine also starred in Bristol's exciting run in the 2014/15 Champions League campaign, which included a brilliant victory over Barcelona on aggregate.

Across football, and without liking to generalise, supporters appreciate players that come across well as much off the pitch as on it and Jasmine leaves Bristol with plenty of goodwill from Vixens fans and players.

A quick glance across the replies on her thank you note to supporters show the words 'legend' and 'inspiring' show up on several occasions along with multiple variations on 'always gave everything'. 

Exciting signs that are matched upon further delving into social media, Jasmine a prominent member of the local Bristol community in youth football and at food banks - so much so that our new number two was awarded the PFA Community Player of the Season earlier this year.

Unlike Leighanne last week, I have seen Jasmine play a fair few times. However since that blog went down a treat I've once again spoken to someone who has seen her play a lot more than me, my friend and massive Bristol fan Keila.

Keila says that Jasmine is "a hard working and determined defender who isn't shy of a hard challenge, very reliable at the back but also a strong leader with a lot of experience behind her despite still being quite young. 

Liverpool fans can expect a fully committed and hard working player with Jaz who gives her all in to each game but is also a lovely person on and off the pitch."

All in all, and forgive me if this sounds like I am getting ahead of myself, this genuinely feels like a fresh start for the club and with more new signings imminent I'm excited and you should be too. 

Liverpool's rebuild begins with Leighanne Robe

Since the end of the 2017/18 Women's Super League season no fewer than nine first team players have departed Liverpool along with manager Scott Rogers.

For supporters of the Reds each departure was a blow. Following a brief respite, as Neil Redfern was announced as Scott's replacement and news trickled through of a positive fan panel, came the knock out - long serving captain Gemma Bonner had also left.

Social media over the last few weeks has been a minefield, with disappointed supporters at every turn. From loyal fans of the club there was nothing but well wishes for those moving on, bittersweet though it may have been.

Today however marks the start of a new era at Liverpool. The first signing of Neil's reign announced as Millwall captain Leighanne Robe, an experienced 24-year old centre half who has also spent time at Arsenal and Watford.

Having not seen much of Leighanne on the pitch, my first thought and port of call was Millwall supporter Dion Farnes, who has seen the majority of their games over the last few years, to get the low down on our number three and all the important stats - such as her first goal for Millwall coming against none other than Everton! You can watch and enjoy that header here - Leighanne goal against Everton.

For the Lionesses Leighanne made 42 appearances, scoring twice. She started each of those games without being subbed off and only missed two games during her time in London.

With the Reds needing clear reinforcements across the field, supporters will be happy to hear that Leighanne is "a solid, reliable and consistent player" who "reads the game very well", "loves a tackle and physically strong, rarely injured and has great stamina".

Dion says that the centre half is usually the first name on the team sheet, a dead ball specialist and a player that stands out on the pitch. 

Added to Neil's comments that Leighanne is comfortable in any position along the back line and a real leader on the pitch, Liverpool are certainly moving in the right direction and look to have bagged a real coup.

Welcome to Liverpool, Leighanne! Up the Reds. 

MATCH REPORT: LIVERPOOL LADIES 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0

LIVERPOOL Ladies defeated FA Women's Super League leaders and Champions League semi-finalists Manchester City 1-0 on Tuesday night.

In a performance that encapsulated what Liverpool as a football club represent the Reds dug deep and, in truth, could have won by a larger margin.

The general press will focus on City and their failure to win however it is Liverpool here who deserve all the credit, a game plan executed to perfection and a counter attacking prowess matched by resilient defending.

The Reds deserved all three points on the night, here is how the action unfolded...

In the pre-match programme Alex Greenwood spoke of how during the Merseyside derby a week earlier, it felt as though Liverpool "had a different energy and a bit of a buzz about us".

That energy clearly carried over into the clash against City with the Reds on the front foot from the opening whistle and Greenwood once more excelling in an advanced attacking role. The England international has been exceptional in a side that has struggled for consistency at times this season, despite being self-critical in the aforementioned programme. 

The exuberance from Liverpool and their willingness to move the ball quickly up the pitch almost seemed to take City by surprise; Caroline Weir nicking the ball from the feet of Nikita Parris in the second minute, allowing Bethany England an early shot on target with an effort deflected into the arms of goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.

Back-to-back set pieces from the visitors also in the opening minutes were both unflinchingly batted away, the second seeing Satara Murray waltz out from the back with the ball and leading to Niamh Charles almost picking out the run of Kate Longhurst.

If back-to-back set pieces were swiftly dealt with by the Reds in defence, this was then mirrored at the opposite end of the pitch.

Greenwood brought down outside the 18-yard box and Weir swinging in a free kick that went out for a corner.

The corner played short and winding back at the feet of Greenwood who played an inch-perfect cross to England who rose above everyone to head the ball into the back of the net.

Convincingly ahead and showing no signs of letting up, England very nearly netted a second after a thrilling move from Greenwood and Weir. The ball initially looking to be a step behind the Scot yet expertly flicked wide to Greenwood without a backwards glance, Greenwood providing a low cross to England who was denied by Bardsley.

City were ruffled and their attacks spurned at every turn; Gemma Bonner and Sophie Ingle proving unbeatable in the heart of the defence, Martha Harris in the way of a throw-in from Esme Morgan and Laura Coombs preventing Jill Scott from registering a shot on target.

To single out players, particularly during the first half, for praise almost seems unfair on the team efforts yet Murray and Harris on either wing impressed and were responsible for restricting City's chances. Each winning every ball they contested and being quick to move it on and start the roving forward marches from the Reds attack.

The catalyst to the Reds counter attacking play throughout was the excellent Coombs, continually box-to-box and providing the link between defence and attack helped by her equally eye-catching midfield colleagues. Longhurst the steel ahead of the back four and Weir the flair playing behind England.

As the game approached the midway stage it was Liverpool who looked more likely to score again, Coombs finding England who in turn picked out Charles. The young attacker, who has been greatly missed through injury throughout the season, chested the ball down inside the area but was instantly dispossessed before being able to volley it home. 

Coombs then created chaos in the area with a set piece delivery that pinged around before eventually being hooked clear by Jennifer Beattie and City ended the half with, what felt like and could possibly have been, their first real chance as Parris struck the side netting. 

As expected the visitors came out swinging in the second half and made two changes within 15 minutes in a bid to mix things up.

These Reds however continued as they had ended the first half; Greenwood twice seeing crosses cleared, Coombs' strike from 30-yard narrowly over the crossbar and England nearly teeing up Weir only for Morgan to get the slightest of touches to push the ball away. 

Liverpool also continued to defend immensely against the growing City frustrations. Harris intercepting a cross from Nadim and Murray also denying the Dane from finding a team mate minutes later.

While City began to throw everything at the game, the Reds defended immensely. Longhurst winning each of her battles, headers against the towering Scott and, later, throwing herself in front of a dangerous ball from Stokes.

In the final minutes Liverpool faced an onslaught with everyone dropping back to stop City grabbing an undeserved equaliser - Murray and Longhurst winning possession from Claire Emslie and Georgia Stanway respectively, substitute Amy Rodgers powerfully heading away Stanway's cross and England back in defence to deny Steph Houghton.

The list goes on and on; Ingle thwarted Parris as she had when the two met last month in England and Wales World Cup qualifier, a previously quiet Siobhan Chamberlain in the Liverpool goal brilliantly saving one corner and strongly catching another and Ingle once more heading clear under pressure from Beattie and Jane Ross.

In added time Houghton had the chance to steal a point with a free kick right at the edge of the area yet stepped up to send it high.

At the final whistle a great roar went up from the proud Liverpool supporters, the winning feeling that much more sweeter being that the Reds haven't beaten Manchester City in four years and signalling that this team can not ever be counted out. The players soaked up the applause and will take this confidence into the final two games of the season - away at Reading on Saturday and back at Prenton Park to take on likely league champions Chelsea on Sunday 20 May. 

MATCH REPORT: LIVERPOOL LADIES 1 EVERTON LADIES 1

Hello followers of @LFCladiesfans, it's been a while since I wrote my own report on a game and the people (one person) have been asking for them. So here we go...

-

Liverpool Ladies will be disappointed to come away from Sunday's Merseyside derby with just one point and just one goal, Laura Coombs' second half strike cancelled out by Jodie Brett's equaliser.

The Reds had a second goal disallowed, Caroline Weir impressively beating Kirstie Levell with a left-footed set piece yet the referee appeared to pull it back for a foul in the build up.

To say Liverpool were on top from the opening whistle would be an understatement, they restricted their visitors to just two clear cut chances. First Chloe Kelly heading a cross from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah over the crossbar and then former Reds midfielder Mollie Green also firing over from range.

Despite the lack of action the Reds defence remained alert, Satara Murray on hand to steer Dan Turner away from goal early on and Siobhan Chamberlain swiftly collecting a deflected pass that Kelly attempted to chase.

Liverpool were eye-catching going forward, in the first half doing everything but putting the ball in the back of the net. The superb Alex Greenwood excelling in a more advanced attacking role, supporting Bethany England up front and being instrumental as the Reds pushed and probed the Blues back line.

Greenwood had the first chance of the game, the ball falling to her at wide of the box and her strike whizzing past the post from a tight angle.

Scotland international Caroline Weir also produced arguably one of her best performances of the season, threatening on more than one occasion to provide the 1,446 supporters in attendance with one of her specials. One strike inches wide and another well-held by Levell.

The Reds visibly grew with confidence throughout the first half with the crowd willing them on. 

Greenwood won a corner that bobbled around in the box before Weir struck a stinging effort at goal. The strike on target yet deflected out for another set piece that saw Greenwood shoot wide.

Before the break Liverpool hit the woodwork twice, Bethany England the first to do so after being put through by Weir then captain Gemma Bonner watching as Levell pushed her on-target header onto the post.

Barely a minute after the restart however the Reds were on the front foot, Everton's defence initially clearing but the magnificent Coombs arriving to drive the ball home from just inside the area.

Then it was almost two, Martha Harris and Greenwood combining to tee up Weir - her shot ending up on the roof of the net. 

Shortly after Weir's free kick wound up in the back of the net, the Reds celebrating before the referee ruled it out for an alleged foul in the build up.

From here it Everton began to threaten, enjoying a series of passes and going close first through a set piece that was headed clear by Harris.

The Blues got their equaliser following a corner, a goal mouth scramble seeing Brett poke the ball over the line.

Niamh Charles made a welcome return from injury and Ali Johnson also came from the bench as Liverpool looked to edge themselves back ahead. Both substitutes impacting immediately on the goal, Charles a second too late to meet a cross from Greenwood at the back post and having a strike from outside the box saved by Levell.

For Johnson her first touch forced an immense block from Gabby George - what seemed like a sure game winner closed down just yards from goal. Minutes later Johnson also ended on the end of a ball in from Greenwood - tapping it across the face of goal and out for a goal kick. 

Liverpool continued to throw everything they had at the Blues - Charles even hitting the post in the dying seconds to make it a hat trick of chances striking the woodwork - but were ultimately unable to net a winner.

The Reds will face Manchester City and Chelsea at home in the run in to the end of the season, with an away trip to Reading on 12th May.

-

As a side note, I'm really proud to be working with the club on social and digital media - one reason for the decrease in content on this page and across the social media channels. I'm still the biggest Reds supporter and love every minute of following, supporting and working with this team. Up the Reds! 

MATCH REPORT: LIVERPOOL LADIES 8 YEOVIL TOWN LADIES 0

LIVERPOOL Ladies enjoyed a storming start to 2018 on Saturday evening as they put Yeovil Town Ladies to the sword. The unrelenting Reds put eight past their visitors from the South West with on-loan forward Bethany England scoring four.

The other goals were shared between Caroline Weir, Jess Clarke and Laura Coombs plus an own goal from Yeovil defender Ann-Marie Heatherson who turned a cross from Weir into her own net.

On an evening with many highlights it was perhaps the biggest of nights for Amy Turner. The Liverpool defender signed from Notts County during the Spring Series and having spent 15 months on the sidelines injured, was named amongst the substitutes and came from the bench to a great reception to mark her comeback.

England led the line for the Reds supported by Ashley Hodson and Clarke, Weir and Coombs were joined in midfield by Sophie Ingle and the largely untroubled defence consisted of Alex Greenwood, Casey Stoney, Gemma Bonner and Martha Harris with Siobhan Chamberlain in goal.

Despite the one-sided scoreline Yeovil had defended well in the opening stages of the FA Women's Super League tie, in the opening ten minutes alone both Weir and Clarke were denied by Glovers goalkeeper Megan Walsh. Clarke dazzling as she skipped past several players, exchanging passes and then seeing her final shot pushed around the post.

The visitors also showed promise going forwards however Nadia Lawrence found herself dispossessed deep in the Reds half by England, who had tracked back and won the ball.

Liverpool continued to look dangerous as they grafted to find the opening goal. Coombs in particular a stand out, especially during the opening twenty minutes of the half, controlling the tempo from the middle and encouraging the full backs to press high up the pitch.

Coombs played an excellent ball that picked out the run of Harris who in turn looped a cross in towards the 6-yard box yet Walsh came off her line to punch clear.

Moments later the Reds broke the deadlock, Yeovil's Heatherson unfortunate as she stuck a leg out in an attempt to clear a cross from Weir that ended up in the back of her own net.

If the first goal could be considered unfortunate for the Glovers, the second was certainly scrappy for Liverpool.

Clarke had forced her way into the area and her shot deflected onto the knee of England who doubled the lead a yard from goal.

With five minutes to go until the break England added a third, latching onto Ingle's superb through ball and closing in on goal. Just when it looked like the defender had got back in time to block any effort, England dragged the ball back onto her right foot and slid a cool finish under Walsh. 

On the stroke of half time Chamberlain was called into her first action of the game, Gemma Evans free kick initially striking the wall yet falling back to her. Evans then struck a fierce drive at goal which Chamberlain did well to get down and smother, preventing the visitors from pulling a goal back.

Out for the second half there was no let up from the Reds, Clarke striking the post with the first attack and Weir further extending the lead with the second.

It was a trademark left-footed wonder goal from outside the area from Weir that made it four-nil. The Scottish international exchanging passes with Coombs and Ingle before turning away from her marker and firing the ball home without even looking up.

From Weir's goal on 51 minutes the Reds scored four goals in nine minutes; England completing her hat trick with a cheeky chip over Walsh, Clarke tapping the ball over the line from close range and England converting a pass from Greenwood in the 60th minute. 

The Reds had barely stopped for a breather, leaving Yeovil stunned and the scoreline at a whopping seven-nil.

Following her fourth goal of the night England was substituted to a rousing reception, replaced by Kate Longhurst. Liverpool's no.7 making her 50th league appearance for Liverpool Ladies and almost marking it with a goal of her own - a left-footed shot just wide of the post.

Turner also replaced Stoney with twenty minutes to play, making her welcome debut for the club after a long fifteen months out injured.

The scoring wasn't over for the night as goal number eight was scored by Reds number eight, Coombs capping her fine performance with a deserved goal - Clarke with the assist.

LIVERPOOL LADIES: Chamberlain, Harris, Bonner (C), Stoney (Turner), Greenwood (Johnson), Ingle, Coombs, Weir, Hodson, Clarke, England (Longhurst)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Bethany England