InterviewAnfield, fifth-spot aim and Smith's brilliance - Clark and Fisk preview Merseyside derby
Jenna Clark and Grace Fisk expressed a strong determination to beat Everton at Anfield on Sunday and send Liverpool FC Women's supporters home happy.
The Reds are searching for back-to-back victories in L4 to follow up their first Barclays Women's Super League win at the ground, a 3-1 defeat of Manchester United in March.
With two fixtures remaining in the campaign, three points from the final home game are keenly sought as the team looks to secure a fifth-placed finish in the table.
Liverpoolfc.com spoke to Clark and Fisk to preview the Merseyside derby – read on to see what they had to say…
On working under interim head coach Amber Whiteley…
Fisk: I've only worked under Amber previously as an assistant but I know some of the girls worked with her when she was interim manager previously. It's been different to see her step into the head coach role. As much as training has changed, she has changed and is more intense and more driven, which has been really good for the group. Training has been a big step up and she has really been pushing us a lot. Obviously we've had quite a few mixed results but a few good results as well. Every day she is pushing us to be better and it has been really good.
You have to accept cookies in order to view this content on our site.
Watch on YouTubeOn how tough training has been in the mini-heatwave on Merseyside…
Clark: For me it includes a lot of factor 50! But we still prepare the same. It is tougher conditions because it has been really hot but we have the water breaks. We have still been training with that same intensity and the same levels, because you can't really step down your level because we've got such a big game at the weekend. We are working as hard as we can with the same levels.
On whether preparing for a derby feels different to any other game…
Fisk: We all know the weight of the game and the importance to ourselves, the club and the fans. We try to train the same and don't change too much because you don't want to mess too many things. But we all know the importance of the game and we are stepping up a level going into the game because, ultimately, we want to come away with three points. We just want to make sure we put in a good performance and get the job done.
On scoring against Everton in the Women's League Cup earlier this season…
Clark: It was very special to score against Everton as I don't get on the scoresheet too often. I was delighted with that and hopefully we can have a good game this weekend and get all three points.
On what it would mean to get back-to-back victories at Anfield…
Fisk: We were all very conscious of our winless run at Anfield before the Manchester United game, so that was really good the last time out to put in such an amazing performance against them. We are really hoping to get back-to-back wins there and give something to our fans to be really proud of and happy [about] as we close out the season.
On the quality of Olivia Smith in her debut season with the club…
Fisk: She has been incredible for us this season. I think we all knew from the first couple of training sessions we had with her that she was special. Just in training, the power she has with her shots and the power physically she has to get past players. She has been amazing and rightly so has picked up a lot of awards this season, and I'm sure many more will come.
She's a lovely kid and you forget how young she is sometimes because her performances on the pitch don't really replicate her age. I'm sure many great things will come in her career and we are just happy she is with us and we are part of her journey because she can go on to be an unbelievable player in world football. She deserves everything she is getting at the moment.
Clark: It's never an enjoyable experience trying to mark her in training! The first session she had with us we knew what a special player she is and she has showed that in the games. It's not by luck – she works really hard in training and it's paying off in the games. She shows up in all of the games – not just the big ones – and she is the type of player that can create something from nothing.
On Liverpool not beating Everton in the WSL since 2019…
Fisk: I didn't realise it was that long, to be fair. It's no secret that we've struggled against them in the last few years and they have been in pretty good form recently. But we feel like our form has been picking up a lot, so we are coming into this game with a lot of confidence. We know if we perform on the day we can beat them.
Clark: The fans are massive for us on Sunday. They have been great not just for the home games but the away ones as well. But for this game to be at Anfield is really special and they really help us with our performances. It will be really nice to hear them on Sunday.
On this being the last game at home in the campaign…
Fisk: Obviously we know for the fans and for ourselves as well this season has been quite up and down. We've got two huge games coming up and we hope we can end the season on a real high. In terms of league position, we want to make sure we get fifth spot, which at one point this season felt quite a way off. So to bring it back, we've got to make sure we get every point on the board now and we will be really pushing for three points and a successful end to the season.
Clark: It has been quite transitional these last few months. As Fisky said, it didn't look too possible [finishing top five] but we've done well to get where we are now and we've just got to keep pushing on. The girls are really positive, training has been good, so we've got some good prep going into the weekend.