Liverpool Women will start the new Women's Super League with a mouthwatering clash against Everton at Anfield on Sunday
Jenna Clark of Liverpool Women
Jenna Clark of Liverpool Women(Image: The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
It has been a summer of change for Liverpool Women. And after the appointment of a new manager and new captain and the inevitable transformation of squad personnel, there's now one further alteration the Reds would very much like to complete.
Liverpool begin a fresh era under head coach Gareth Taylor when they kick off their Women's Super League campaign with a mouthwatering Merseyside derby against neighbours Everton at Anfield on Sunday (kick-off 12pm).
The Reds have yet to beat their local rivals at the stadium, their most recent such meeting ending in a 2-0 defeat in May during a game in which the hosts dominated.
And Liverpool centre-back Jenna Clark is all too aware a significant box is still to be ticked.
"It's definitely in our minds," she says to the ECHO. "We know we haven't beaten Everton at Anfield and that's something we are looking to put right this season.
"I'm absolutely buzzing for the game. It's felt like a long time waiting over the summer for the start of the new season so we're really keen to get started.
"And it's a great opening game. Playing at Anfield in a Merseyside derby, you couldn't ask for a better way to start the season.
"It's so special to play at Anfield. Walking out at any stadium wearing a Liverpool kit is a memory that I will have forever, but doing it at Anfield is even more special given the history of the stadium and the club. It speak volumes, especially when you're out there."
Taylor, who spent five years in charge at Manchester City, was appointed head coach at the start of last month with Liverpool Women having been without a permanent boss since Matt Beard was sacked in February. Amber Whiteley, who assumed the role on an interim basis for the remainder of last season, has reverted to assistant coach.
Olivia Smith left for Arsenal in a word record £1million deal this summer and Taylor Hinds joined the Gunners on a free transfer, Jasmine Matthews was among several other departures and the retirement of Niamh Fahey prompted the appointment of defender Grace Fisk as new club captain.
Coming in are goalkeeper Rafael Borggrafe, defender Lily Woodham and midfielder Kirsty Maclean, while Sam Kerr made a permanent move from Bayern Munich having spent the second half of last season on loan with the Reds.
And on Thursday, Liverpool announced the arrival of striker Beata Olsson from Swedish club Kristianstads and the signing on loan of Barcelona midfielder Emilia Szymczak.
"We had a bit of a transitional season towards the end and had a few ups and downs throughout it," admits Clark.
"Going into this season, it's definitely seen by us as a fresh start. With Gareth coming in, it's exciting and the future looks good.
"It's part of a footballer's life that managers come and go and it can be quite ruthless, but when you're within football you are more used to it.
"It was a hard spell in the sense we were moving on from a manager we had worked with for a while and built a relationship with.
"The club dealt with it in a good way, and when Amber took over she did everything she could in that time. We've learned a lot from that spell but it feel like a long time ago, especially with the summer break."
Liverpool concluded their pre-season preparations with a training camp in Cork in the Republic of Ireland last week before a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City in their final friendly.
And Clark adds of working under new boss Taylor: "It has been really good and really positive. There has been a lot of learning and a lot of information in a really good way.
"It's a different way of playing, and we're excited to show that not only to our fans, but across the league and that starts this weekend.
"The new players have settled in. Losing players is part and parcel of the game but we are now looking forward to going ahead with the squad we have.
"You always want to progress every season. We are under no illusions - last season wasn't our best, you can't really pin it down to one or two things as to why that is. But we have to push on from it both in terms of how we play and our results."