"Just eight days on from that devastating news, Liverpool fell to a 2-0 defeat to United on Merseyside thanks to goals from Hinata Miyazawa and Ella Toone. But, for head coach Gareth Taylor and his players, the challenges surrounding Sunday's game extended far beyond matters on the pitch. Fourteen of the 20 players in Liverpool's matchday squad played under Beard before he was dismissed in February, following a string of disappointing results."
"Eight members of the team that started against United were signed by Beard, while more than half of defender Gemma Bonner's 200 WSL appearances -- a landmark she reached on Sunday -- came under him at Chelsea and across two separate spells at Liverpool. It was during that first period on Merseyside that both Beard and Bonner helped to deliver the club's first ever WSL title in 2013, which they successfully defended the following season."
"The Liverpool fans in attendance against United honoured that feat with chants of "Matt Beard's Mighty Reds" in the 13th and 14th minutes. To many of those supporters, Beard was not just a football manager but a friend. After games at the club's former stadium, Prenton Park -- where they played until 2024, he could regularly be found signing autographs long after the final whistle, before joining fans for a postmatch drink at the pub next door."
Matt Beard, Liverpool's former manager, died at 47 last weekend. Liverpool lost 2-0 to Manchester United at St Helens, with Hinata Miyazawa and Ella Toone scoring. A banner reading "Liverpool was made for Matt and Matt was made for Liverpool" and chants of "Matt Beard's Mighty Reds" honored his memory. Fourteen of the 20 players in Liverpool's matchday squad had played under Beard, eight starters were signed by him, and Gemma Bonner reached 200 WSL appearances, many under Beard across Chelsea and two Liverpool spells. Beard led Liverpool to consecutive WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 and was dismissed in February after disappointing results.
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