Whiteley wants to be permanent Liverpool manager

Liverpool interim boss Amber Whiteley said she will "put my name in the hat" for the permanent role after Matt Beard's departure.

The 47-year-old was sacked on Thursday, bringing to an end his second spell at the club.

It is Whiteley's second spell as interim boss, after previously taking charge of the club from January until the end of the season in 2021 following Vicky Jepson's departure.

Whiteley expects to lead the team until at least the end of the season, but is keen to land the job on a full-time basis.

"I will put my name in the hat," she said. "The recruitment process has already started.

"When these opportunities come about, you have to stand up and show exactly what you are capable of. It's really important to do that and to do that as a female coach too.

"There are always mixed emotions when a manager leaves a club. It's never an easy thing to go through."

Whiteley, who recently took up an additional role as Carla Ward's assistant with the Republic of Ireland women's team, believes she is better prepared this time around.

Last time, Liverpool were in the Championship and Whiteley helped the team to a third-place finish, winning five of her nine league games in charge.

"From the interim period previously the biggest thing I took away was that I was capable of doing the job," she said.

"I am in a far better position having had the time with Matt and working under him. I am in a better spot now in terms of being able to take the team forward.

"I'm so grateful to Matt for everything that he has given to me personally over the last three and a bit years. I'm going to miss him."

Liverpool are seventh in the Women's Super League with eight league games remaining and face Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals next weekend.

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers is one of the WSL's success stories this season after her impressive spell in interim charge.

The Dutchwoman took charge of the Gunners after Jonas Eidevall's departure in October.

She signed a one-and-a-half-year contract in January after going unbeaten in her 11 games in temporary charge, winning 10 and drawing one.

She has been named the WSL's manager of the month twice this season and offered some advice to Whiteley in her pre-match news conference on Friday.

"Be yourself and try to find those small little things that you can impact," she said.

"Then be brave if there are things you see that you want to change or emphasise.

"Don't think that you are interim and not in a position to change things and make decisions.

"You actually are and do it, because that will lead to what you want to do with the team. That would be my little advice."