West Ham United women’s team v Liverpool
Barclays Women’s Super League, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Sunday 29 September 2024, 3pm BST
West Ham United women's team face Liverpool in their first home match of the new Barclays Women's Super League season.
The Irons are back in front of their own fans as the Reds make the trip to east London for the second fixture of the 2024/25 campaign.
After losing out to Manchester United 3-0 on the opening day at Old Trafford, Rehanne Skinner's side are hoping to use home advantage to spur them on to victory.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the contest at Chigwell Construction Stadium in Dagenham...
Tickets...
Tickets will be available to purchase online up until one hour before kick-off (2pm BST) on Sunday afternoon. Click HERE to puchase yours now!
Tickets can also be purchased from the Ticket Office located at Chigwell Construction Stadium up until kick-off on Sunday. The Ticket Office will be open from 1pm.
How To Follow...
The WSL will be more accessible to supporters from across the globe than ever before during 2024/25, with coverage of the league moving from The FA Player to YouTube!
Matches not picked for broadcast will be shown live on the online video sharing platform, which can be viewed worldwide excluding Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Tune in from 2.55pm to watch all of the action from Chigwell Construction Stadium!
Alternatively, you can also follow the action across our social media channels, while highlights and exclusive reaction will follow after the final whistle on whufc.com.
Travel...
The most convenient way to reach Chigwell Construction Stadium is by public transport. However, supporters should note that there are some planned closures on some routes on Sunday.
The Elizabeth line has no service between Shenfield and Whitechapel, while there is also no Greater Anglia service between Liverpool Street and Witham / Southend Victoria / Southminster.
Replacement bus services will operate, so we advise supporters to check their journeys before they travel, using resources such as TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go app. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website if travelling on the rail network.
Dagenham East station on the London Underground's District line is situated about 500 metres from the ground. On exiting the station, turn left and the ground is in Victoria Road, which is the fifth turning on the left-hand side after about 400 metres. You will see the stadium at the end of the cul-de-sac.
For those travelling by bus, fans can take the route 103 from either Romford railway station or Rainham station, which is served by c2c rail services. The 103 has stops on both sides of Rainham Road South, just north of Victoria Road.
No parking is available at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Street parking in the local area is available, but motorists should take note of restrictions.
Matchday Activations...
There are a number of exciting activations taking place at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday!
Starting pre-match, EA Sports FC are offering supporters the chance to play FC25, which was released on Friday 27 September. A bespoke gaming van will be in the car park, offering supporters the chance to play the game before heading into the stadium.
Courtesy of our sleeve partner, Intuit Quickbooks, flags will be handed out to supporters on arrival, while fans could get their hands on a free t-shirt around 15 minutes before kick-off!
At half-time, we will be hosting a penalty shootout where participants will have the chance to win a signed shirt by the women's team squad! Under-18s can sign up to take part across the season by clicking HERE!
Opposition…
Liverpool enjoyed a fine 2023/24 campaign in the WSL, finishing fourth, ahead of local rivals Manchester United, after losing just five of their 22 league matches.
Although there was disappointment in the domestic cup competitions, where Leicester City proved too strong in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals and the Reds crashed out of the FA Women’s League Cup at the group stage, there was a general feeling of pride at what was achieved last term.
Following the team’s relocation to St Helens for home games, a repeat of that top-four finish and a deep cup run would only increase optimism.
The Reds were busy in the transfer market this summer, breaking their record fee paid to bring in Canadian Olivia Smith from Sporting Lisbon.
While 20-year-old Smith has major potential, Wales international Gemma Evans has huge experience, with 67 caps for her country and over 120 Women’s Super League appearances to her name. Evans has joined from Manchester United.
Going the other way were defender Emma Koivisto (to AC Milan) and midfielders Melissa Lawley (Everton), Shanice van de Sanden (Pachuca), Miri Taylor and Missy Bo Kearns (both Aston Villa).
Manager Matt Beard has been coaching for over 15 years, and it would be fair to say he has since developed into one of the most respected and experienced managers around.
Beard won the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division title with Millwall in 2009, led Chelsea to the FA Women’s Cup final in 2012, and was then won back-to-back Women’s Super League titles and was named FA WSL Manager of the Year in 2013 and 2014 during his first spell at Liverpool.
After a year in America with Boston Breakers, Beard joined West Ham United in 2018 and duly led the newly professional Hammers to the FA Women’s Cup final at Wembley Stadium in his first season.
After a short spell at Bristol City, the Roehampton-born Beard returned to Liverpool in summer 2021 and immediately guided the Reds to the FA Women's Championship title, before achieving seventh and fourth-place Women’s Super League finishes, adding a third FA WSL Manager of the Year award last season.
The Reds secured an opening day draw with Leicester City at their new home on the opening day, with Sophie Román Haug finding the net.
Previous Meetings...
The two sides have played one-another eight times in the WSL, with Liverpool coming out on top in the most recent fixture between the two, which was played in March at Prenton Park.
The two sides drew 1-1 in the last meeting at Chigwell Construction Stadium, with Riko Ueki sliding in to scramble a late equaliser into the net back in October 2023. Indeed, the Japanese forward scored in both matches against Liverpool last term.
In total, Liverpool have come out on top in four matches, West Ham in one, and there have been three draws between the two.
