‘I expect a really tough game’ – Kaminski anticipates a battle when Crystal Palace face Liverpool | OneFootball

Crystal Palace head coach Laura Kaminski says that this weekend’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Liverpool will be a real battle but she believes that her side are ready for the challenge.

The Eagles travel to St Helens to face The Reds on Sunday afternoon. Crystal Palace will be looking to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.

When speaking in the pre-match press conference, Crystal Palace boss Kaminski said that the game will be a battle but her side are well-prepared for competing against Liverpool.

“I expect a really tough game but it’s nothing that the players aren’t used to,” Kaminski said. “We’ve now had a few weeks learning the tricks of the trade in the league and we’re getting used to the pace of it.

“I expect the game to be challenging for the group and we expect a tough battle; we know that they put their bodies on the line and they’re an aggressive side. We are aware of that and we need to battle with conviction but also, have our own game plan in the sense that we’ve looked okay with the ball. We plan to continue in those progressions.”

Crystal Palace performed well against the more physical and aggresive teams in the Barclays Women’s Championship last season and Kaminski agrees that those experiences will benefit her side.

She said “The Championship is quite transitional and is focused on duels, regains and counter-attacking. There are those elements where we’ve had a year already in terms of preparation for that style of play. I’m certainly not saying that’s all that Liverpool have got because they’re a very organised side that plays some attractive football and they have a strong formation.

“We really do think that we’ve got that foundation in terms of understanding the grit that you need in the Championship and we’ve got those memories and experiences to carry with us into the WSL. When you’re in the Championship, that has to be your bread and butter every week and we are strong in that area, so I expect the players to step up to the plate.”

Crystal Palace forward Katie Stengel will enjoy an emotional return to her former club this weekend. Kaminski says that Stengel speaks fondly of her time on Merseyside, although she hasn’t shared any information on Liverpool ahead of the game.

She said “She knows Matt [Beard] really well and speaks fondly of him. We were speaking about him in midweek; what a great manager he is for Liverpool. We also spoke about her time there as well.

“Katie is the ultimate professional. I wouldn’t want my daily ins and outs being broadcast anywhere else and Katie sticks to the letter of law with that one. She was at Liverpool a while ago, so it’s pretty irrelevant to us now and we wouldn’t ask Katie about that. She has got some fond memories of her time at the club and it was of great interest and value to me to hear about the time she had there, all was positive.

“Katie’s focus is very much on Palace going into this weekend.”

Crystal Palace’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Liverpool kicks-off at 2pm on Sunday afternoon.