Liverpool Sign Megan Campbell From Manchester City Ahead Of Preseason

It was a busy week for Matt Beard and the Liverpool FC Women’s front office last week. Liverpool announced the signings of four players to the squad as they prepare to kick off their preseason. Leanne Kiernan and Yana Daniels were brought in to add to the attacking band as Liverpool make another attempt at promotion in the FA Women’s Championship. Jasmine Matthews made a return to Liverpool, and will bring versatility as a defender or a holding midfielder. The last member of the quartet of signings was Megan Campbell.

The 27 year old Irishwoman agreed to join Liverpool on Thursday after leaving Manchester City, where she had played for the past five seasons. Campbell will bring a wealth of winning experience with her, along with a Delapian long throw in.

“I’ve played and trained with a lot of successful players from different cultures, Olympic medal winners, World Cup winners, European winners, so I’ve been around it and seen what it takes to get to the top and stay at the top,” said Campbell in her introductory interview with the club.

“I hope I can help the club get promoted and get back to where it belongs. Matt has been great for me and when he contacted me and said he wanted to bring me here, that was brilliant for me – hearing a manager wanted me so badly. So when I got the opportunity, I was never going to turn it down. I’m really looking forward to this challenge. The manager has put his trust and faith in me. I know the girls, from seeing a few interviews and stuff, were quite disappointed not getting promoted last year, and I know they will have fire in their bellies and are ready to push on now.”

Campbell’s new manager, Matt Beard, knows how important that winning mentality is...as well as what a weapon her long throw can be.

“Obviously her long throw is well-documented in the game and with players like Furney in our team, it will be a good weapon for us,” said Beard. “She’s a fantastic footballer who’s been a bit unlucky with injuries over the last year or so, and I think it just fits for us and it fits for her. It’s another player who knows how to win things and has been involved in a club that is challenging. Her experience is going to be very valuable for us this campaign.”

While Campbell is returning from a season plagued by injury, it will be interesting to see if she can push Taylor Hinds for a starting role. Hinds was one of Liverpool’s top performers last season, but it seems that Beard is trying to breed a culture of competition for spots. It should be noted that Beard has hinted that Campbell could also be deployed as a center back.

“Meg offers a bit of versatility as she can play centre-back or left-back,” said Beard.

It’s nice to see Liverpool get a good chunk of their business to build out their team. All four players announced this past week come in with a wealth of experience in the WSL. With preseason kicking off this week, all players will get to spend a full preseason with the team as Beard implements his system.