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Matt Beard has been sacked as manager of Liverpool FC Women after almost four years in charge.

Beard has been dismissed from his role with the Reds standing in seventh place in the Women's Super League, although they have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's FA Cup where they are at Arsenal next month.

Amber Whiteley, the Liverpool FC Women's assistant manager, will take charge of the team on an interim basis with immediate effect.

Beard had originally joined as manager in 2012 and won successive Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014, while also leading Liverpool into their first Champions League campaign.

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He returned to the Reds in May 2021 charged with helping them back into the top flight after relegation to the FA Women's Championship in 2020, a feat he managed at the first time of asking.

Liverpool finished seventh in their first season back in the WSL before ending fourth last term.

But after a move this term to St Helens for home games, the Reds have struggled to replicate that form and stand seventh in the table, 15 points off the Champions League qualification berths.

In a club statement on behalf of the LFC Women board, Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan and communications director Susan Black said: "We have all experienced some fantastic moments with Matt as manager of LFC Women and we express our gratitude for his significant contribution.

"Our priority was to return this team to where it belongs and we collectively achieved that in 2022 by winning promotion to the WSL.

“We need to build on that momentum and although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for future success on the pitch.”

The Reds, meanwhile, have been handed an injury scare ahead of their return to action at Crystal Palace on Sunday (2pm kick-off).

Republic of Ireland international Leanne Kiernan was not involved for her country as they won 1-0 at home to Turkey in the UEFA Women’s Nations League on Friday.

And ahead of Ireland's trip to Slovenia on Tuesday, it was announced that Kiernan had left the camp with a calf injury.

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She will now be assessed by Liverpool's medical staff before Sunday's WSL showdown against Palace.

Tickets can be booked HERE for the match, which will take place at the VBS Community Stadium.

Free coach travel, provided by club partner Expedia, can also be booked by those with a match ticket.
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