Liverpool’s Missy Bo Kearns is set to play for England at Prenton Park for the first time next week and says “it’s going to feel amazing.”
After the stalemate against Spain on Thursday, the young Lionesses will be travelling up north to Merseyside to take on Belgium on Monday evening. The clash in Wirral will mean more for one particular U23 player. Kearns will be pulling on an England shirt at her club’s home ground for the first time.
Kearns is looking forward to the night, knowing that stepping onto the pitch in front of both England and Liverpool fans will be special.
Kearns said: “It’s amazing. I think that people not only support me for Liverpool but also in my international career. I appreciate it a lot and I do notice it.”
Despite Liverpool women playing across the Mersey on Tranmere’s turf, the team have made the pitch their home. Though Kearns admits that it would be better if the stands were red, the pitch ticks every other box. She said: “We have been there for several seasons now. It’s a pitch with two goals and four corners. We have made it home by winning promotion there.”
Kearns was a starter in their match against Spain on Thursday. Mo Marley’s side were unable to find a breakthrough in the goalless draw. Kearns described the game as a good test and said the team is confident going into the match against The Belgian Red Flames.
She said: “We want to win every game and we are capable of this. Spain are one of the top nations so a draw shows where we are.”
A tight match for Mo Marley's U23 #YoungLionesses.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) February 16, 2023
The last time the two sides met was almost two years ago in October 2021. The match in Tubize ended with a 1-0 win for England. Brighton’s Katie Robinson opened the scoring just five minutes after coming on in the 60th minute. Ebony Salmon, who was already involved in Sarina Wiegman’s senior side at the time, led the charge and provided Robinson with the assist.
The two friendlies for the Young Lionesses coincide with the senior side’s Arnold Clark Cup campaign. Wiegman’s team took to the pitch in Milton Keynes a few hours after the U23s heard the final whistle, allowing the youngsters to watch the game together in camp.
Kearns said: “We watched the game against Korea and we are all hungry to try and get in the squad I think. Performing in our 23’s is what we’re trying to do to get noticed by Sarina.”
Kearns and her teammates have three full days to recover and prepare for the match at Prenton Park. The game is due to kick off at 7pm on Monday.
