'His spirit will always live on' - Liverpool pay Beard tribute

Liverpool Women observed a minute's silence before their 5-0 win over Sunderland

Liverpool Women paid tribute to former manager Matt Beard in an emotional first home game since his death aged 47.

Beard, who won back-to-back Women's Super League titles with the club in 2013 and 2014, died on Saturday evening.

Defender Jenna Clark said Liverpool put in a performance Beard would be "proud of" as they beat Sunderland 5-0 in the Women's League Cup group game.

"People talk about Liverpool Football Club as being a family. We have seen that so much in the past few days," said Clark, who wore the captain's armband for the evening.

"There are probably not enough words to really say how much that means to us.

"We heard the fans throughout and the minute's silence at the start was really emotional, but it was nice that we paid that tribute to Matt."

An image of Beard was printed on the front cover of a special match programme, which sold out before the game kicked off.

Throughout the 13th and 14th minutes at St Helen's Stadium, with Liverpool already 1-0 up, fans sang "Matt Beard's Mighty Reds" in tribute to his successive WSL titles.

A banner with the words, 'Liverpool was made for Matt and Matt was made for Liverpool', was carried along the main stand while the singing took place.

Clark, who also scored her side's second goal, added: "In the past few days we've also been reminiscing about all the stories of 'Beardy' in training and the type of person he was.

"It has been really difficult, it's not been a lot of time. A lot of staff and players have been up and down.

"We remember him so well and there have been some good stories being shared so we've had smiles on our faces at times. He would have liked that. We'll remember him as the happy character he was."

Beard spent seven years at Liverpool across two spells with the club, as well as spells at Millwall Lionesses, Chelsea, Boston Breakers, West Ham, Bristol City and Burnley.

Current Reds boss Gareth Taylor, who faced Beard's teams when in charge of Manchester City, said: "It's been a really emotional few days. It's been really hard for me to be stood up in front of the players when it's something that affected me a lot as well.

"He was one of my favourite guys to come up against. He was so passionate so we would have a battle, then argue, then fall-out, then apologise to each other - but you couldn't help but love the guy.

"He will be sorely missed. I said to the players afterwards that Matt would have been really proud."

A banner in tribute of Matt Beard was held up by supporters at Anfield on Tuesday during the men's team's 2-1 victory over Southampton

Supporters queued up outside the stadium reception to sign a book of condolence in memory of Beard, with another placed at Anfield.

Former Liverpool player Rhiannon Roberts, now the current Sunderland captain, laid a wreath and wrote personal words in the book before the match took place.

A number of the club's ex-players were in attendance, including former England striker Natasha Dowie, ex-England full-back Becky Easton and Burnley trio Melissa Lawley, Jasmine Matthews and Yana Daniels, who all reunited with Beard after their Liverpool exits.

The stadium announcer read out Beard's achievements before a minute's silence was observed - an image of the former manager on the big screen - with players and staff standing arm-in-arm.

Wales international Gemma Evans opened the scoring with her first goal for the club in the seventh minute and celebrated by blowing a kiss to the sky in tribute to Beard.

Clark headed home 14 minutes later to make it 2-0, before Risa Shimizu netted on her full debut. Substitute Sophie Roman Haug sealed victory with two goals in the second half.

Earlier this week, broadcaster Jacqui Oatley set up a fundraising page to raise money for funeral costs to help Beard's family, and more than £45,000 has been donated so far.

Taylor said some former players were invited to the club's Melwood training ground this week and he encouraged his players to grieve.

"I just tried to not hide my feelings," he added. "I definitely broke down a few times in front of them which is OK. The things I have been preaching to them is that it is OK to feel happy, sad, disappointed, devastated or whatever their emotions are.

"Grieving is really strange. It can hit people at different times. There's been some tough moments and the players had one tonight. It's so difficult to then go and play.

"We tried to give them some help with that. Sometimes it can be a nice distraction when you have the game. The tributes from the supporters have been top.

"Matt has left a huge hole in a lot of people. His spirit will always live on. He will never been forgotten, certainly not from this football club."