‘It’s definitely a very dangerous opponent’ – Brighton boss Vidošić previews Liverpool test | OneFootball

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Dario Vidošić says that this weekend’s opponents Liverpool will give his side a real test, especially given the fact that the Merseysiders have strengthened in the January transfer window and got players back from injury.

The Seagulls travel to St Helens to face The Reds in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Friday evening.

Liverpool finished last season in fourth position but have struggled to replicate their form this term. Injuries have played a big part but manager Matt Beard now has a near-full squad at his disposal while Liverpool have made the impressive January additions of Sam Kerr and Júlia Bartel.

When speaking in the pre-match press conference, Brighton & Hove Albion boss Vidošić said that he expects opponents Liverpool to provide a very stern test.

“You expect teams to get stronger and stronger each week,” Vidošić said. “With the extra week, they’ve had the chance to have a few extra training sessions to prepare for us and likewise, we’ve had the same.

“I think it’ll be a great game. We are prepared for their new signings taking to the field, we know enough about them. We will be ready to make any adjustments within the match. I expect a very tough game, they’ve got a very good squad, a good coach who has done very well last season and previously. It’s definitely a very dangerous opponent.”

Regardless of this weekend’s result, Brighton & Hove Albion will remain in fifth position in the Barclays Women’s Super League table. Vidošić is not measuring his side’s progression against league rankings.

He said “I don’t really look at it like that, it’s that old cliché of week-to-week. We just want to try to evolve and try to get better.

“I think we’ve played really well in the majority of games but there are still phases of play and aspects within the game that we are looking to fix. We are also learning how teams are differing their styles to match up to us.

“There has been a lot of learning, there is more learning to go but overall, I’m really happy with how we’ve progressed and we just need to take the next steps.”

Three of Brighton & Hove Albion’s first four away league games have been against the current top-three. Vidošić has been pleased with what he has witnessed but says that his side cannot afford to compete for anything less than 90 minutes.

He said “Each game was different. [Manchester] City was very early in our journey but we wanted to go there and play our style and for periods, we did. Manchester City are a good team and at that time, they’d had a couple of extra games in the Champions League and they were maybe a little bit more prepared.

“Arsenal was not one of our better performances but it’s one that we learned a lot from in terms of the preparation, expectation and being present when these occasions do come. Chelsea as well, we were right in their faces, created some good chances and we were probably unlucky not to take the lead.

“If we reflect, we’ve progressed well but we want to be like that for 90 minutes against everyone. It shouldn’t matter what the badge is, we want to be Brighton and play our football.”

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Liverpool kicks-off at 7pm on Friday evening.