Red Ladies head to Madrid

Liverpool FC Ladies will begin their build-up to the first FA Women's Super League season with a visit to Atlético Madrid on Saturday.

The Reds fly out to the Spanish capital on Friday afternoon to begin their pre-season preparations ahead of the new season getting under way in March next year.   

The trip also represents an opportunity to further strengthen the special relationship between the two clubs. The men's teams have met several times during the past two seasons, with Liverpool having also signed Fernando Torres and Maxi Rodríguez from the Spanish club.

Liverpool Ladies Manager, Robbie Johnson, believes the trip will be an ideal opportunity for his side to test themselves against top European opposition:  

"The invitation to play the game came from Atlético," he said. "They, like ourselves, seem keen to keep the good relations between the two clubs going and it gives us the chance to test ourselves against foreign opposition.

“Their league (Superliga Femenina) starts in a couple of weeks so this will probably be their last pre-season game and our first.

“It will be a fantastic experience and occasion for the club and one which I am very much looking forward to. It will be a tough fixture seeing as it comes so early in our season, but I’m confident we will give them a good game."

Johnson also revealed the rest of his side’s pre-season plans and admitted that even though the season is still a few months away, he wants his team to ready for the big kick-off.

"We've put together a decent programme of friendlies, including a trip to Dublin to play the Irish Champions St Francis and to Glasgow to play the Scottish Champions Glasgow City at the end of their season in November," he revealed.

"But it's a strange time at the moment, with the Super League not starting until March it’s a case of getting whatever friendlies in we can. It's giving us the opportunity to add to our playing squad, which I feel still needs strengthening to go into the Super League.

“My firm belief is that by the time we have completed our pre-season programme we will be ready to be competitive this season."