Liverpool Women’s manager Matt Beard has been nominated for the Women’s Super League Manager of the Month award after a stellar start to the season.

Beard’s side pulled off a shock 1-0 victory against Arsenal at The Emirates, as a record WSL crowd were stunned by the Scousers.

The surprise result in the capital was backed up by another impressive three points at Prenton Park, as the Reds secured beat Aston Villa.

Goals courtesy of Marie Hobinger and Natasha Flint ensured Beard’s side commenced the campaign on a high after concluding last season in seventh place following promotion in 2021-22

A narrow loss to fierce rivals Everton at Anfield halted Liverpool’s scintillating form, as Blues captain Megan Finnigan scored her second of the season to sink Beard’s side.

However, the Reds bounced back from defeat, and played out a 1-1 stalemate with West Ham United, as Riko Ueki equalised in the fifth minute of injury time for the Hammers, denying Liverpool a third win from four at the death.

Their impressive start to the season sees Liverpool occupying sixth spot as we head into the international break, after picking up seven points from the 12 available.

The 45-year-old faces tough competition though, with the other nominees consisting of: Emma Hayes (Chelsea), Willie Kirk (Leicester City), Gareth Taylor (Manchester City), and Robert Vilahamn (Tottenham Hotspur).

Taylor’s Manchester City top the table and are yet to be defeated after triumphs against West Ham, Leicester City, and a 5-0 thumping of newly promoted Bristol City cemented the Citizens reign over the rest of the division.

The Sky Blues are closely followed by Hayes’ Chelsea, with the Blues matching City’s points tally in the early stages of the campaign. Also undefeated, the West Londoners have only dropped points in a 1-1 draw with City, as Guro Reiten’s 96th minute equaliser salvaged a point for Chelsea.

Third in the table is Vilahamn’s Tottenham Hotspur side, who boast an excellent nine points. After an opening day defeat to London rivals Chelsea, Spurs have won their last three, deservedly earning a spot in the top three.

Also nominated for the managerial award is Willie Kirk, who took charge of Leicester City last season after departing Everton. The Foxes have been in fine form so far, and sit in fifth place after picking up two wins, one draw, and a loss. Kirk’s side only managed to collect 16 points across the whole of last season, and have already gained seven this campaign.

Kirk will go head-to-head with Beard when Leicester arrive at Prenton Park on November 5.

Voting ends on Monday 30 October at 10:00 GMT, with the winner being announced shortly after.

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