""Liverpool was made for Matt and Matt was made for Liverpool," read the banner, displayed in tribute to the hosts' former manager Matt Beard, who passed away last weekend at the age of 47. 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."
St Helens' Stadium displayed a banner honoring former manager Matt Beard after his death at 47 as Liverpool hosted Manchester United. Liverpool lost 2-0 to United, with Hinata Miyazawa and Ella Toone scoring. Fourteen of the 20 players in the matchday squad had played under Beard, and eight starters were his signings. Defender Gemma Bonner reached 200 WSL appearances, with more than half accrued under Beard at Chelsea and two Liverpool spells. Beard and Bonner delivered Liverpool's first WSL title in 2013 and defended it the following season. Fans chanted "Matt Beard's Mighty Reds" and recalled his friendliness with supporters.
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