St Helens 'already home' for Liverpool despite results

Liverpool are still waiting for their first Women's Super League victory at their new St Helens Stadium home - but all signs suggest it's been a positive move by the club.

The Reds made the switch this season after six years at men's League Two side Tranmere Rovers' Prenton Park ground.

Manager Matt Beard says it "already feels like home".

BBC Sport went to see how Liverpool have settled in and what changes they have experienced.

A Premier League standard pitch was laid at St Helens' 18,000-capacity rugby league ground to await Liverpool's arrival.

The facilities are just what the women's team need. The only dent in their otherwise seamless move across Merseyside is a three-game winless streak there.

But Beard is not concerned about Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Chelsea meaning the wait goes on.

"Once we get that first win, we'll be all right," he said.

"Long-term it's a fantastic move for us. It was always going to take a little bit of time to settle in. We're really pleased with how it's gone so far. We just need to get that first win."

Chelsea were an opponent Liverpool had enjoyed success against at Prenton Park, which Beard said had a "unique atmosphere".

Their old home was seen as a fortress with some of the WSL's top teams, including Chelsea and Manchester United, suffering shock defeats there.

Chelsea defender Millie Bright even admitted on Sunday that recent trips to Liverpool had been "in the back of her mind".

"That's been the frustration so far this season. We have had too many draws," Liverpool season-ticket holder Chris Brack told BBC Sport.

"We're still a hard team to beat but we've not quite finished teams off. When we get that first home win, more will hopefully follow."

While results on the pitch are still a work in progress, Liverpool's work off it has been a success - with their move to St Helens coinciding with upgraded training facilities at Melwood.

The club's fundraising charity - the LFC Foundation - started a new hub at the women's stadium this week, linking up with their rugby club counterparts.

They hope it will help expand their fanbase in Merseyside, with the stadium relocation plotting them a distance away from the Wirral, where the majority of Liverpool Women's season-ticket holders come from.

Nicki Fitzpatrick, a loyal supporter for the past five years, is one of those making the longer trip for home matches this season.

"Obviously it's a bit of a travel for some supporters. One of the buses was late this morning so there's always a little bit of a worry with travel considering it's a home game," she told BBC Sport.

"But I think it's a great move and it's a red stadium. The concourse is really nice inside. It's spacious and during the winter we can actually head inside.

"The pre-match build-up is really nice and it's a lot better than it was at Prenton Park."

Before kick-off, fans can huddle in a controlled area outside to see players walk into the stadium and take pictures.

There is a new fanzone with small-sided football cages, penalty shootout competitions, creative spaces for bracelet making and a musician performing in the bar, which mirrors the pre-match offering at Anfield.

The club are also able to sell hospitality packages and offer friends and family seats in private areas.

Olivia Brack, 11, who is a season-ticket holder with her dad, says she prefers the experience at St Helens.

"There's more stuff for the fans here than there was at Prenton Park," she told BBC Sport.

"We usually go to the fanzone and meet up with lots of other supporters, then we tend to get some food from the stadium. I like it."

The next step is building the atmosphere.

While the club tries to grow its fanbase, supporters are sat in the main stand opposite the dugouts - which is better viewing for broadcasters.

It means the away fans are in the corner near the managers and the 600-odd travelling Chelsea fans on Sunday seemed to enjoy the experience.

"I do miss our fans being behind the dugout like we had at Prenton Park," Beard admitted this week.

The club has ambitions in the long-term to fill both stands so home fans can be moved back behind the dugouts, but Fitzpatrick thinks it is just "teething problems" and on the whole, the atmosphere has been strong.

The 4,514 in attendance on Sunday was their biggest crowd this season and it was noticeable, with both sets of supporters making their voices heard throughout.

"Liverpool are trying to make it more inclusive so everyone can sit together. That also means the season-ticket holders are spread out a little more," said Fitzpatrick.

"It's harder to get the atmosphere. It's a big stadium to fill and to create that noise but we're getting there. It's still very new. The players seem to like it.

"I know Matt Beard said he liked having fans sat behind him and a lot of the supporters have echoed that. It's just little things like that - but it's been good."