Liverpool boss unhappy with 'crazy' rule change that 'needs looking at' before players get injured

Liverpool boss Matt Beard has called for officials to review the amount of stoppage time being added in Women's Super League (WSL) games amid growing concerns over player welfare.

The Reds continued their flying start to the season with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday however there was some consternation on the Liverpool bench when the fourth official announced there would be 10 additional minutes at Prenton Park. While Beard's side saw the game out comfortably, the Liverpool boss was left frustrated with the excessive amount of stoppage time allocated by referee Anthony Backhouse.

"We’ve just played another 105 minutes today. It’s crazy," he told the ECHO after the game. "We need to look after the players. They need to look at it because players are going to get injured. It’s as simple as that.

Miri Taylor makes Anfield admission as she opens up on 'incredible' Liverpool transfer and that Arsenal win

How to order your copy of our new monthly special Women's Football News

"You’ve got all these players that haven’t had a break. We’ve had the Euros, the World Cup and we’ve the Olympics next summer. It’s a worry because it’s too much football. You saw the Chelsea v Man City game earlier it was almost a game in extra time."

Beard's comments come just a week after Liverpool played 11 minutes of additional time at the Emirates, while an extra 13 minutes were played during Sunday's clash between Manchester City and Chelsea. In spite of his gripes over stoppage time, Beard was delighted with the way his side acquitted themselves against Villa.

Liverpool took the lead inside 21 minutes thanks to a superb strike from summer signing Marie Hobinger before Melissa Lawley set up fellow substitute Natasha Flint to wrap the