Leicester City manager Willie Kirk was suspended by the club on Friday amidst reports of an alleged relationship with a player – and the timing couldn’t have come at a worse time for his Foxes side, as they prepared to take on Liverpool at Prenton Park in arguably the most important match of their season thus far.
LIV: Laws; Matthews, Fisk, Fahey, Clark, Koivisto; Höbinger, Lundgaard, Kearns; Haug, Enderby
LEI: Kop; Cayman, Thibaud, Howard, Bott; Takarada; Nevin, Pelgander, Tierney, Rantala; Whelan
The Foxes confirmed that Kirk would not be on the touchline for Saturday’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarterfinal clash, with assistant manager Jennifer Foster and first-team coach Stephen Kirby taking charge of the side in his absence.
But while it was Liverpool that dominated possession in the early minutes at Prenton Park, Leicester City soon silenced the discourse surrounding the club as Jutta Rantala smashed home a rebounded effort after just fifteen minutes, capitalising on Janice Cayman’s initial strike that ricocheted off the post.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool’s desperate search for an equaliser failed to bear fruit, and it was shortly after the hour mark that the Foxes all but confirmed their progression to their first-ever FA Cup semifinal as Rantala completed her brace with a fine effort from the edge of the box.
Saturday’s hosts remain winless at home since their 4-0 victory against Brighton in November 2023. Matt Bead will be hoping that his Reds can end that streak next weekend as they welcome West Ham to Prenton Park, before travelling to Goodison Park for the Merseyside Derby on March 24.
In a time of uncertainty on the banks of the River Soar, Leicester City proved that they will not be distracted by off-pitch discourse as they reach their first-ever Adobe Women’s FA Cup semifinal. It has been a great season thus far for the Foxes, and they look more than capable of breaking into the top six next weekend with a victory against Tottenham.
