Overview
- Anfield observed a minute’s silence with players in black armbands and stadium displays reading “Matt Beard 1978–2025” before the Carabao Cup tie against Southampton.
- Liverpool Women’s League Cup match in St Helens featured books of condolence, dedicated match programmes that sold out and a subdued rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
- A JustGiving appeal launched by broadcaster Jacqui Oatley to support Beard’s wife Debbie and children Harry and Ellie surpassed its initial £5,000 target, rising to more than £37,000.
- Manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk and women’s captain Grace Fisk praised Beard’s integrity, warmth and influence in messages shared around the fixtures.
- Beard’s legacy includes back-to-back WSL titles with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014 and promotion after his 2021 return, with his most recent role coming at Burnley Women.