Matt Beard addressed the media from Liverpool’s AXA Melwood Training Centre on Friday, as the Reds prepare to face Brighton at the Broadfield Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Seagulls recently appointed Mikey Harris to take interim charge of the club after the shock departure of American Mel Phillips, who herself had only taken the reins in April 2023.

Beard’s regular club column highlighted the fact that his brother has previously worked with Harris, but he took the opportunity to brush off any assumed significance of that fact in his press conference – instead reiterating the work that the club’s analysts do to assess the opposition.

“Structurally, there’ve obviously been a few changes,” explained Beard. “I think out of possession, they’re a lot more organised – they’re not as high risk with their pressing as they were under Mel [Phillips]. We need to be patient on Sunday when we have the ball, because structurally they build really well and defensively they’re organised.

 I think in such a short space of time, I think [Mikey Harris] has done a fantastic job so tactically, it’s going to be a really good challenge for us on Sunday. They’ve got a good win [against Wolves in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup] which will give them confidence. How they’re playing and the players’ work ethic is fantastic, so the players seem to be enjoying what Mikey’s doing with them.”

With no Barclays Women’s Super League action last weekend, Liverpool instead turned to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and recorded a comfortable 0-2 win over London City Lionesses. Asked if the break from league football helped his side to regroup after a tumultuous start to the calendar year, Beard was on the fence: “I guess yes and no, really.”

“Obviously we had the two defeats – Arsenal and Manchester City – and then we’ve had two positive results in the FA Cup [against Bristol City and London City Lionesses] and a draw against Tottenham. It’s been a bit of an up-and-down month, but we’ve still got three positive results out of five games so we take the rough with the smooth.”

Liverpool are able to welcome Teagan Micah back to the matchday squad for Sunday’s clash, but Beard told reporters that “[Miri] Taylor and the long-term ones are still out.”

Beard also spoke in-focus on Emma Koivisto, who has become a regular for Liverpool in the Barclays Women’s Super League since signing from Brighton Hove & Albion. Whenasked to give an insight into her development since her arrival on Merseyside, Beard explained that ‘Emma’s progressed fantastically. I think when she first came in, it was a big change from what she was used to at Brighton.’

“I know when she was at Brighton, she was played in numerous positions whereas she’s had a settled role here. Emma’s a fantastic player. Her work rate day in, day out is second to none and we’re lucky to have her.”

Attention then turned to the return of Leanne Kiernan, who has impressed since she fought back through several injury knockbacks. The Republic of Ireland international was recalled to the Girls in Green squad to face Italy and Cymru later this month, which Beard said he was ‘delighted’ about.

“We had a conversation when she’d just come back from the injury and was starting to get minutes again. She’d taken to watching games and developed herself from a tactical standpoint – and if I watch Leanne now in comparison to Leanne before she got injured, tactically she’s got a lot better.”

Liverpool travel to Brighton’s Broadfield Stadium today, with the match set to get underway at midday.