Jurgen Klopp congratulates Liverpool's newly-crowned Women's Championship winners
Liverpool sealed the Women’s Championship title with victory over Bristol City on Sunday; Matt Beard's side secured their return to the WSL following a two-season absence; Jurgen Klopp sent messages of congratulations to coaching staff
Monday 4 April 2022 20:56, UK
Jurgen Klopp hopes Liverpool Women can make the most of their opportunity to return to the FA Women's Super League after a two-year exile.
Following confirmation of their promotion to the top flight on Sunday, when they clinched top spot with two games to spare in front of a Championship record crowd of 5,752, the Reds boss shared messages of congratulations with his opposite number on the women's side.
Liverpool won back-to-back WSL titles under Matt Beard in 2013 and 2014 before a turbulent period culminated in relegation on a points-per-game basis at the end of the coronavirus-affected 2019/20 campaign.
Klopp, who is preparing his side to face Benfica in Champions League action on Tuesday, commended a "wonderful team" and "great coach", as he explained how he hoped the achievement is the beginning of an upward curve for women's football at Liverpool.
"Congratulations - I sent messages yesterday, I was really happy. I was following it all the time," the German said at his press conference on Monday ahead of this week's first-leg tie in Lisbon.
"After the result last week it was clear they needed a draw against Bristol to make it and they won. I'm really happy for the girls and for Matt - it is a big, big thing."
He added: "Obviously, Liverpool was in the last years not famous for treating or dealing with women's football outstandingly well. They didn't go down to the Championship for no reason.
"I met a lot of the girls in the last two or three months for different reasons, we did wonderful things together with Meikayla (Moore) for LGBT, which was really great and then I spoke to others, and it's really nice.
"Now they are back and we have to make sure that we use the situation. It is a wonderful team, great coach and I'm really happy for them to get promoted."
Carney: Brilliant season
Former England international Karen Carney told Sky Sports: "Liverpool are a massive football club, so to have Liverpool in the WSL - it's huge, that's what we want.
"I'm really excited for them, I think they've been brilliant this season."
