“Very Special.” – Liverpool Women’s Duo Look Ahead To Merseyside Derby At Anfield | OneFootball

By Mark Strickland

Liverpool Women face Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday, which kicks off at noon.

The Reds lost the final women’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park by a solitary goal back in November under the tutelage of Matt Beard.

But his assistant-manager-turned-interim-manager, Amber Whitely, inspired the women’s team to their first-ever win at Anfield in their last game there in March, beating Manchester United 3-1.

Dan Clubbe went to the AXA Melwood Training Centre to speak to defender Gemma Evans and midfielder Marie Hobinger.

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On the derby on Sunday…

Evans: “Anfield is an amazing stadium, and then we beat United there. It’s a derby. And I think all the girls are looking forward to it.”

Hobinger: “I think it will be a very special game, especially facing Everton and playing the derby at Anfield. It’s very special for us as players, and we want to bring good energy and enjoy the atmosphere.

“I also think playing at Anfield just makes you appreciate football so much and the journey as well, and I think that’s also a moment when you can be proud of yourself and the team to step on that pitch for Liverpool Football Club. And I think we have to play with pride and heart as well, and I think that’s what derbies are about as well.”

On beating Manchester United at Anfield…

Evans: “We go into every game wanting to win and get the results, and I think the girls put in a very strong performance. The prep was really good that week. And we lifted the curse of Anfield, I suppose.”

Hobinger: “I think it was very special, and the atmosphere was just amazing. I think you know, as a Liverpool player, what it means to the supporters as well and to the city, especially, and I think it just felt like giving something back to the people that support us week in and week out. And I think you can also tell that we have such a good group of players and people. And I think that’s exactly the emotions we want to bring on the pitch, and that’s the mentality we also want to start with in the game against Everton.”

On the performance of the team this term…

Evans: “I think it’s been a bit of a long, old season, but we’ve had injuries along the way. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, with the players being in, players being out, but we’re a tight group and whatever is put ahead of us we’ll challenge and we’ll compete.”

On the importance of finishing the campaign well…

Evans: “It’s massive. We believe we can win these games and that’s what we’re going to go out there and do, so I think it’ll be a massive moment for us.”

Hobinger: “I think the first half of the season wasn’t our best, and I think we didn’t really live up to expectations. And I think it’s even better to have had the chance in the second half of the season to prove that we can do it, and I think we’ve been able to do that over the last month as well. And with Amber coming in, obviously, we’ve been building on a new kind of playing philosophy, and I think for us as a team, it gave us a chance to reset as well over Winter. And I think it’s just good to show that we can do better, and I think we also want to prove that in the last push, in the last two games as well.”

On the men’s team winning the league and why people should come down…

Evans: “I just think the atmosphere will be electric. Look what the men have done – we obviously want to push in that direction. We know we can only finish fifth, that’s our aim, and that’s what we’re looking to do. And I just think it’ll be a fun day out, and it’s just a family-oriented vibe, so it’s not too chaotic. Come and watch the game, meet some of the girls, and it’s just a good atmosphere all round.”

Hobinger: I think you can see what it means to people, to have won the title again, and I think for the football club it would be even bigger to get the women’s team to that level as well. And I think for me, watching the scenes, it was absolutely unreal and it made me emotional as well, and I just hope that we can get to that level as well and build on what we have here and compete next year in the next years with the top half as well. And I think the football club gives us everything to achieve those things, and I hope for the people to also recognise the women’s team can do these things as well.”

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