Inside track on Liverpool | Olivia Heslington
Sat 26 April 2025, 09:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Our penultimate away game of the Barclays Women’s Super League campaign sees us take on Liverpool at St Helens Stadium on Sunday afternoon (12pm UK).
The Reds returned to winning ways in the league last weekend after a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, helping them leapfrog the Seagulls back to fifth in the table as they look to secure a top five finish for a second consecutive season.
Ahead of our trip on Merseyside this weekend, we spoke to Olivia Heslington to get a lowdown on Liverpool this term…
How would you reflect on Liverpool's 2024/25 campaign as it comes to an end?
Olivia: “This season has brought on many changes. The major one being the management switch from Matt Beard to Amber Whiteley. I think the switch has worked well for the remainder of the season, but that in no means takes away from what Beard has achieved at the club, especially this season, with some great wins like the 4-0 victory over local rivals Everton and a 2-1 victory over Manchester United.
“As a whole, this campaign isn’t something to look negatively on, maybe a beginning of a new era. A change with the management situation at the club along with the quality of some of the players in the side, it’s always a good watch and there’s been some great games and great scorelines.
“Defensive tweaks will be important moving forward. Out of the 25 games played this season (including cup games), there’s only been four clean sheets.”
Who have been the standout players this term?
Olivia: “It goes without saying that if you watched Liverpool against Brighton last weekend, Ceri Holland was a player that you would hate to play against. It was the first time I believe she was placed in a different position, more towards the left with the aim to attack.
“Two assists, and multiple through balls to the likes of Olivia Smith and Leanne Kiernan – as well as her own solid chance towards the end of the game which was saved by the keeper. It was a great adjustment for her to make on the pitch and something for the Spurs team to keep an eye on.
“It has to be said as well, the attacking force Liverpool had last weekend can’t be unnoticed and, like I’ve said previously, it will be keeping a close eye on Smith & Kiernan’s form picking back up in these past few weeks too.”
How has Amber Whiteley done since stepping in as an interim role?
Olivia: “Since Whiteley has come into the club for this role, she’s been in charge of seven games. Four of those being wins, big ones especially with the likes of a 1-0 victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup and a 3-1 win over Manchester United.
“I do think the defence needs to have slight tweaks in terms of feeling more confident when the opposition are on the attack, the goal Brighton scored last weekend could’ve been easily controlled to allow Liverpool perserve the clean sheet. I think her ability to alter players positionally and the level of support she brings has definitely improved the squad as a whole. With Zara Shaw suffering her second ACL injury as well, the team all look like a big unit and I think that support will do them well going into the crunch time of the season.”
What can we expect from Liverpool this weekend?
Olivia: “Liverpool will really want back-to-back wins going forward. They’re looking to really close down on that fifth spot in the table and, as we enter the final stages of the league, it needs to be all or nothing.
“Spurs really need to keep a close eye on the likes of the forwards, especially if Whiteley places Holland in the same positioning as Brighton, and hopefully Liverpool’s defence will be tighter at the back because, if Tottenham catch them lacking, it will cause a big issue.”
