On Saturday afternoon Liverpool were not the main attraction, that was the newly crowned champions of England in royal blue. However the reds pushed the champions hard, coming within minutes of taking a point from the match or even snatching victory. In the end it was the home side who claimed the late victory as they have done on so many occasions this season.
The Halfway Line got the opportunity to speak with Liverpool’s interim head coach Amber Whiteley after a battling defeat on the final day.
‘The girls gave everything today’
Liverpool have impressed in two away trips to London against Chelsea under Amber Whiteley but lost both down to late Aggie Beever-Jones goals. Whiteley provided her assessment on the performance, reflecting:
“I thought the girls gave everything today. Particularly [in the] first half we had some good spells, some good opportunities for a goal, but, yeah, really difficult with the conditions out there today, it was so warm. And when you spend large portions of the game without it [the ball] it’s yes, it took its toll in the end,”
When asked if Whiteley wouldn’t want to see Aggie Beever-Jones again anytime soon, the Interim Liverpool head coach laughed: “Yeah, or Sonia!” before continuing earnestly, “Credit to Chelsea. That’s why they’re champions [they] have got that winning mentality, and they keep going right right till the very end. Congratulations to them. They’ve had a fantastic season.”
‘Niamh has given so much to the game’
As well as crowning the champions, Saturday was also a celebration of Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey, who brought to an end a storied career at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool defender has been a stalwart of the game and her interim head coach gushed in appreciation of her captain:
“Niamh [Fahey] has given so much to the game as a whole, and she’s given so much to Liverpool Football Club. I think it was a dream of hers as a little girl to put on the red shirt, and I think that little girl would be so proud of her.”
Liverpool’s interim head coach continued: “She’s incredible to work with. She’s got that fire in the belly when she’s out there on the pitch and [she’s] got that edge but has got the ability to connect with everyone, and that’s why she’s so well loved and respected.
You know, across the dressing room and across the club, she’s a brilliant person, and I feel so fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to work with her over the last five years.”
When asked if Whiteley felt Fahey’s future might lie in coaching she replied:
“I think she’s wanting to take some time to relax now and reflect before she takes any next steps.”
As for her own future with Liverpool Whiteley noted:
“Yeah, I absolutely love the football club it means everything to me, the people mean everything to me. So yeah, I’d love to stay on, but [it’s] important to reflect on this game, and then turn our focus to that one.”
Whiteley confirms ‘lower back injury’ for Smith
There was cause for concern on the touchline for Whiteley after Olivia Smith went down injured clutching her back in the second half before being substituted. Whiteley was asked about the injury, she replied:
“I think it’s a lower back [injury], so I think it’s just gone into spasm when she’s hit the ground, just spoke to her in there and she’s she’s okay.
When asked why Smith walked off the pitch and was not stretchered off Whiteley replied:”She’d asked not to be stretched off, because it was her lower back and it was in spasm. She felt more comfortable actually walking around. But Yeah, appreciate it took a bit of time to get around the pitch.”
Ceri Holland ‘gives everything every time she pulls on the shirt’
The Halfway Line asked for Whiteley’s thoughts on the performance of Welsh midfielder Ceri Holland. Holland made six tackles and won the most duels of any player on the pitch with 11. Whiteley waxed lyrical:
“Thought Ceri’s energy today was brilliant as it’s been most weeks she puts absolutely everything in and gives everything every time she pulls on the shirt.
She played in different positions today, started in the front line, then moved to a wing back role, and then, you know, finished in the top line in a front two. She was brilliant, a really good performance from her.”
