Q&AFaye Kirby interview: New LFC Women contract, goalkeeping strength and ambitions

The 21-year-old goalkeeper signed a new contract with Liverpool FC Women on Tuesday to continue her journey with the club, which began by joining from Everton in September 2022.

Kirby has made five appearances for the Reds at senior level and is now fully fit again having recovered from the anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered while on loan at Aberdeen.

Liverpool's 2022-23 Young Player of the Year spoke to us at the AXA Melwood Training Centre moments after putting pen to paper on her new deal. The interview can be read in full below...

Faye, fantastic news that you've signed a new deal with the club. How does it feel to get it over the line?

It feels great to get it over the line. Obviously there have been talks behind the scenes for quite a while now. So, I'm just over the moon to get it done and get going now.

You've obviously been on a rehabilitation journey recently following your ACL injury. But you're through that, you're back in full training – that must be a great feeling...

Obviously it was, being out quite a long time. So to finally get back, get fit towards the end of the last season, I felt like I had a good couple of weeks. And then into the off-season and now hopefully just hit the road running in pre-season.

How much of a testament is it to the medical team and support staff behind the scenes? Mentally, as well as physically, those periods can be tough...

Every staff [member] behind the scenes has really been there for me, and I might not have got through it without them. The way they have supported me has just been great. Credit to them.

The same with the playing squad as well. You saw the reception towards the end of last season when you were coming back and the girls that stayed to watch your first game. We know the girls have that strong connection and friendship...

We do. It's just credit to us because we're so close as a group. My first game back for the U21s, it was nice to see them there because I've finally made it and they've been there, they've seen me through the worst of times. And to see me actually come out of it and to play a game, it was just a great feeling.

In terms of the goalkeeping group now, we've got Rafaela Borggrafe, who joined us this summer, Rachael Laws and yourself. It's a really strong pool of goalkeepers and a lot of competition there for that No.1 spot...

Of course. Rafa has been a great addition. Obviously me and Lawsy have worked together in the last couple of years. But Rafa coming in now, I feel like we've got a strong group, like you said. At the end of the day there's only one shirt but we're going to push each other. Whoever gets that starting position has obviously earned it, so we're just there to support. We'll push each other every day and you never know what can happen.

How important is that strong goalkeepers' union where you've all got different attributes and you're pushing each other in training every day to a higher level?

I think it is important because someone might be better at something than yourself, so you can learn. You can push each other, they can learn off me, I can learn off them. It just makes everybody a better player.

So, with a new contract and pre-season ahead of you, what are your aims and objectives both short term and long term with the club?

As of right now, it's just hit the ground running, get back into training, hopefully pick up some minutes in pre-season. Then just start the season well and then hopefully finish as strong as we can as a team.