What Eva wants from her goalkeepers

Phallon Tullis-Joyce says she is trying to be “a sponge” around Eva Olid, as she absorbs what United Women's new head coach wants from her shot-stoppers.

The American is enjoying working with the Catalan coach and learning about the role the goalkeeper has in Olid's front-footed style of play.

Tullis-Joyce has been one of the position's standout performers across the Barclays Women's Super League over the last two seasons and has played every minute of our four top-flight outings so far this term.

The 29-year-old has been nominated for the WSL's September Save of the Month award for an impressive stop in the recent draw at Arsenal and will be hoping to help the Reds register a second successive league win on Saturday, when we host Liverpool on the back of securing a first three points of the season against West Ham United last weekend.

It is ahead of Liverpool's visit to Leigh that Phallon has been speaking to us about what she's taken from working with Eva over the last couple of months. You can watch a section of the interview below and read the full thing inside this weekend's official matchday programme, available at the Progress With Unity Stadium for £3.

“Eva came in and I've just been trying to be a sponge, absorb her style of play, and absorb what she wants from her goalkeepers,” Tullis-Joyce told us in an exclusive Carrington chat.

Phallon: Bring on Battle of the Reds!

Phallon: Bring on Battle of the Reds!

“Of course, she wants the shot-stopper, she wants the person coming out for crosses. She wants that dominant presence. At the same time, she wants another equally dominant presence with the ball at your feet and giving that communication to your defenders and trying to find the free player. That’s really what she’s been [asking for].

“But I think one of the key phrases that I like that Eva says is that: ‘Football is simple. I just want you to do what's simple.’ She's gonna give us the repetitions in training so that it's gonna be easier for us to see in games. It's just gonna take time.

“I think she gives you that confidence that what we're doing in training sessions will translate.”

With victories over Sheffield United and Durham in the Subway Players Cup, either side of last Sunday's WSL success aganst West Ham, confidence is high among the squad and Olid's Reds will be out in search of a fourth successive win when Liverpool come to Leigh for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off (13:30 BST).

Tickets are available for the fixture, which Phallon understands the historical significance of. The goalkeeper is now in her fourth season at United and has been able to get a good gauge on the storied rivalry beteween the two clubs, from her six previous appearances for us against the Merseysiders.

Phallon was all smiles after a win over Liverpool on her second United outing, in 2023.

“Absolutely [you can always feel the rivalry]. Battle of the Reds! I feel like that's definitely an intense one that I've been a part of, especially these four seasons,” Tullis-Joyce says.

“It's always been a big game against Liverpool. So I'm looking forward to that one. We met them in pre-season [2-1 loss], so we have got to get them back this time, in season.”

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United Women v Liverpool on Saturday

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