ST HELENS, England -- Among the sea of flags decorating St Helens' Stadium during Liverpool 's Women's Super League (WSL) clash with Manchester United , there was one particularly poignant addition.

"Liverpool was made for Matt and Matt was made for Liverpool," read the banner, displayed in tribute to the hosts' former manager Matt Beard, who passed away last weekend at the age of 47 .

Just eight days on from that devastating news, Liverpool fell to a 2-0 defeat to United on Merseyside thanks to goals from Hinata Miyazawa and Ella Toone . But, for head coach Gareth Taylor and his players, the challenges surrounding Sunday's game extended far beyond matters on the pitch.

Fourteen of the 20 players in Liverpool's matchday squad played under Beard before he was dismissed in F

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