The past year hasn’t gone as hoped for Liverpool FC’s women’s team, with regression defining the 2024-25 campaign and the departure for long-serving manager Matt Beard the result of it. Though it all, though, Leanne Kiernan has been a constant and positive presence in the side she’s been part of since 2021.
Today, the Republic of Ireland forward officially confirmed that her presence would continue through next season, with Kiernan putting pen to paper on a new contract that will keep her at the club
at least though a fifth season as the Reds look to rebound and grow again under newly arrived manager Gareth Taylor.
“It feels amazing and I’m really excited to get going again,” Keirnan said of her new deal. “I feel like it’s an exciting time with Gareth and [assistant manager] Chad [Gribble] coming in and I’m really confident that they will get the best out of me. It’s been really exciting, the sessions have been very different.
“But different is also quite nice. It’s learning different ways of playing the game and how creative we can be and what we can do on the ball, so I feel like the fans should be very excited to see our new style this season. I feel like he understands the number nine role from playing it, so it’s a really exciting time for me.”
Given last season’s stumbles and the recent departure of Olivia Smith, who joined Arsenal over the summer with Liverpool cashing in on a record £1M transfer fee rather than building a side to support one of the most talented young players on the women’s side of the game, there’s been some trepidation amongst fans.
Having a fan favourite and impactful striker recommit her immediate future to the club as Keirnan has, though, is at least perhaps a sign that behind the scenes work is being done and that just maybe things are heading in the right direction for LFCW, even if it may not always be clear to see looking from the outside.
