West Ham United women’s team v Liverpool
Adobe Women's FA Cup fourth round, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Sunday 12 January 2025, 2pm GMT
It’s a new year, and West Ham United women’s team are back on Sunday!
While the wait for a return to Barclays Women’s Super League action runs on slightly longer, all eyes are on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup as Liverpool make their second trip of the season to Chigwell Construction Stadium for this fourth-round tie.
The two sides couldn’t be separated in September when Riko Ueki headed home an 85th-minute equaliser to earn the Hammers their first point of the campaign after Olivia Smith’s opener early in the first half.
The match will once again see former Hammers boss Matt Beard, who led West Ham to the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in 2019, take his spot in the opposition dugout as he looks to help Liverpool progress in the competition.
A spot in the fifth round is up for grabs in what is set to be a mouth-watering cup tie in Dagenham. Here’s everything you need to know about the clash against the Reds…
Tickets...
Make sure to get your ticket for the women’s team’s first game of 2025! They can be purchased HERE!
Tickets can also be bought from the Ticket Office (subject to availability), located at Chigwell Construction Stadium up until kick-off on Sunday. The Ticket Office will be open from 12pm.
How To Follow…
As well as watching at Chigwell Construction Stadium, the tie will be broadcast live on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup YouTube channel and the FA Player.
Both platforms are available to watch for free!
Travel…
The most convenient way to reach Chigwell Construction Stadium is by public transport.
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 103 from either Romford railway station, which is served by Greater Anglia, TfL's Elizabeth line, and London Overground, 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.
Supporters using public transport are advised 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.
No parking is available at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Street parking in the local area is available, but motorists should take note of restrictions.
Opposition…
Beard led the Reds to the quarter-finals of the Women’s FA Cup last season, beating Bristol City and London City Lionesses before falling short at home to Leicester City in the final eight.
Liverpool have reached the semi-finals on three occasions over the past 14 seasons and are sure to be fired up in the hope of claiming a spot in the fifth round.
And they will be buoyed by the addition of two loan signings made so far in the January transfer window in Sam Kerr from FC Bayern Munich and Julia Bartel from Chelsea.
One player who joined in the summer was Canada international Smith, who became the club’s record signing following her move from Sporting Lisbon.
Since her goal against the Hammers in September, the 20-year-old has netted once in both the WSL and Subway Women’s League Cup respectively and has become one of Beard’s go-to attacking assets.
Meanwhile, after her first season in red last term, Mia Enderby is settling into life at Liverpool this term. Beard showed his faith in her before the Christmas break, handing the 19-year-old starts against Manchester United and Arsenal, and while she is yet to get off the mark in the WSL, she found the back of the net on four occasions in the Subway Women’s League Cup.
Braces against Newcastle United and local rivals Everton were her first goals for Liverpool since joining from Sheffield United in the summer of 2023 and Beard may turn to Enderby this weekend for more joy in cup competitions.
Another player to watch is two-time WSL winning defender Gemma Bonner, who has been ever-present in Beard’s side this term.
The centre-back is currently enjoying her second spell at Liverpool - having captained the club to back-to-back top-flight titles under Beard in 2013 and 2014 - after rejoining the Reds in January 2023.
An England international, Bonner previously plied her trade for Chelsea and Manchester City before making a move to the National Women's Soccer League, where she spent one-and-a-half years at Racing Louisville.
Elsewhere, manager 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 then won back-to-back WSL 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 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 WSL finishes, adding a third FA WSL Manager of the Year award last season.
Previous Meetings…
The last two meetings between the two teams at Chigwell Construction Stadium have ended in 1-1 draws, with Ueki conjuring up late equalisers on both occasions. But the last time the Reds left Dagenham victorious was back in October 2018.
The Japan international was also on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture in March last term, however, Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners that afternoon.
In all competitions, Liverpool have come out on top in four matches, West Ham in two, and there have been four draws between the two teams.
