Quietly they stood in the queue, stretching far beyond the door of the main reception at St Helens, to pay their respects to the former Liverpool manager Matt Beard. Once inside, an image of Beard and his trademark smile was displayed on a screen above a table where red and white flowers – one bouquet accompanied by a hand-written note expressing love from Sunderland – lay next to the books of condolence that were quickly filling up with messages of love.
The scene was so sombre, it was, momentarily, difficult to imagine there was a game of football to watch, but soon the Liverpool fans were inside the stadium for the first match since the shock news of Beard’s sudden death at the age of 47.
The attendance was – as expected for a League Cup group-stage fixture against lower-league opposition – on the low side but more than 4,000 will be in this ground on Sunday when Liverpool host Manchester United in the Women’s Super League and the tributes to Beard will continue. Still, Wednesday’s match programmes, dedicated to Beard, all rapidly sold out.
Beard’s contribution to the club will be fondly remembered by supporters. Photograph: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Getty Images
Among the crowd were Beard’s brother, Mark, and his mother, Margaret, as well as several players from Beard’s time in charge, including the former England and Liverpool striker Natasha Dowie. The players walked out to an emotional rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone, which was sung quietly, like the gentle whisper of a prayer compared with the roaring versions usually heard at Anfield, but the sound was no less stirring. The coaching staff of both teams all linked arm-in-arm before a moment’s silence was observed impeccably.
And while in many ways the outcome of the game had scarcely felt less important, it was also a salient time for Liverpool to secure their first victory of the season – not just for Beard but for themselves, after two defeats from their opening two WSL game.
On this emotional night they outplayed Sunderland for a 5-0 victory, much to the delight of their supporters, some of whom waved a flag bearing the words: “Liverpool was made for Matt and Matt was made for Liverpool”.
Jenna Clark was one of four Liverpool players to get their names on the score sheet. Photograph: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Getty Images
The home fans sang “Matt Beard’s mighty reds” loudly throughout the 13th and 14th minutes, in reference to the years 2013 and 2014 when Beard led the club to back-to-back WSL titles. By then, they were already 1-0 up, and fittingly the opening goal had come from Gemma Evans, a player Beard signed for Liverpool in 2024 and had also played under him at Bristol City briefly in 2021. She blew a kiss up towards the sky in celebration after she headed home from Fuka Nagano’s seventh-minute cross.
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From another header from a defender, this time Jenna Clark, the hosts doubled their lead, and after the game she said: “It’s been a very emotional few days for everyone – we’ve pulled through as a team as best as we could.”
Risa Shimizu scored the goal of the night as she skilfully lobbed the goalkeeper with a volley. The substitute Sophie Román Haug added two close-range finishes in the second-half to complete the rout.
