Sports
Liverpool pay tribute to Matt Beard on return to WSL action
ST HELENS, England — Among the sea of flags decorating St Helens’ Stadium during Liverpool‘s Women’s Super League (WSL) clash with Manchester United, there was one particularly poignant addition.
“Liverpool was made for Matt and Matt was made for Liverpool,” read the banner, displayed in tribute to the hosts’ former manager Matt Beard, who passed away last weekend at the age of 47.
Just eight days on from that devastating news, Liverpool fell to a 2-0 defeat to United on Merseyside thanks to goals from Hinata Miyazawa and Ella Toone. But, for head coach Gareth Taylor and his players, the challenges surrounding Sunday’s game extended far beyond matters on the pitch.
Fourteen of the 20 players in Liverpool’s matchday squad played under Beard before he was dismissed in February, following a string of disappointing results. Eight members of the team that started against United were signed by Beard, while more than half of defender Gemma Bonner‘s 200 WSL appearances — a landmark she reached on Sunday — came under him at Chelsea and across two separate spells at Liverpool.
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It was during that first period on Merseyside that both Beard and Bonner helped to deliver the club’s first ever WSL title in 2013, which they successfully defended the following season. The Liverpool fans in attendance against United honoured that feat with chants of “Matt Beard’s Mighty Reds” in the 13th and 14th minutes.
To many of those supporters, Beard was not just a football manager but a friend. After games at the club’s former stadium, Prenton Park — where they played until 2024, he could regularly be found signing autographs long after the final whistle, before joining fans for a postmatch drink at the pub next door.
It was a level of familiarity that defied Beard’s status as one of the most high-profile and successful managers in WSL history. But, in many ways, it was that easy-going persona which set him apart from his contemporaries and won the affections of so many within the women’s game.
“It’s rare for a football manager to be so loved by so many players,” Liverpool captain Grace Fisk said in a heartfelt tribute posted to the club’s website this week. “He coached hundreds of players but had interactions with many more and he just had this way of drawing people to him.
“We saw how competitive he was on the sidelines, so loud, rowdy and shouting your ears off one minute but then joking with you about it 20 minutes later. He just had this warmth about him and he cared so much about people. If you were playing badly or had a bad training session, he’d make you feel like your worries were just silly. I think the effect he had on everyone was really special.”
Indeed, the outpouring of emotion that has greeted Beard’s passing speaks volumes about the contributions he made to the world of women’s football. The London-born coach, affectionately dubbed “Beardy” by those who knew him, managed seven different clubs across a distinguished 17-year career, and played an integral role in advancing the professionalism of the women’s game.
After leaving Liverpool in 2015, he enjoyed spells in charge of NWSL side Boston Breakers as well as West Ham United and Bristol City. He rejoined the Reds in 2021 when the club was at its lowest ebb, having been relegated to the second tier the year prior.
With Beard back at the helm, Liverpool immediately secured promotion back to the top flight and, in the 2023-24 season, defied expectations by finishing in the top four despite their limited transfer budget. He helped turn Liverpool’s fortunes around and, in doing so, left an indelible mark, not just on the club but on the sport in general.
“I felt that [the players] all dealt with the emotion of it beautifully,” United boss Marc Skinner said after his team’s victory. “What I’d say, though, is there’s time for sadness, but we need to celebrate Matt’s life. I know [Beard’s wife] Debbie was in the stands and I know that she will want everybody to remember Matt exactly how he was in front of everyone.
“So, I promised everyone that I’ll keep talking about him in our environment so the memory of him will live strong. And so, as sad as it is, I think it’s now time to turn that into the happiness and remember him in the best possible way because he was an incredible human.”
For Liverpool, the task at hand is now clear. The Reds are yet to collect a point in the WSL this term — despite winning 5-0 against Sunderland in the League Cup in midweek — and the need to start picking up results is becoming increasingly pressing.
Of course, achieving success at this level is much easier said than done, but the resilience Liverpool showed in the second half should, at least, inspire optimism that this team is up for the fight.
“I think this is a cracking group of people to work with,” Taylor said. “I think being at this club is super special. Each person who works here or plays here feels that, and I think there’s a lot of positives.
“The girls are excellent to work with, they really, really are. I think obviously now there’s a lot of transition going on; new staff, new way of playing potentially. Hopefully off the back of that there will be new expectations.
“That takes a little bit of time and trying to change the mindset here of the players a little bit. Trying to turn them into winners again, which we’ve been before under Matt, is a tough challenge.”
That challenge will continue when Liverpool take on free-spending London City Lionesses in the WSL next Sunday. A victory at Hayes Lane could mark the start of a new era under Taylor, though the memory of the man who laid the club’s foundations will live on forever.
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ESPN star Dick Vitale wasn’t pleased with Ben Johnson on Sunday after the Chicago Bears coach’s explicit reaction to a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers went viral.
The cameras were on and the mic was hot when Johnson rallied his team in the locker room following a 31-27 comeback victory. He was heard saying, “F— the Packers! F— them! F—ing hate those guys.”
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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stands on the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field on Jan. 10, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
Vitale, the legendary college basketball commentator, appeared to be appalled.
“Total CLASSLESS attitude in winning by BEN JOHNSON coach of the @ChicagoBears in the fab comeback to beat the @packers. Main theme should have been the gutty comeback not the childish F__ Packers comments,” Vitale wrote on X.
The rivalry between the Bears and Packers is certainly revved up. Johnson threw gasoline on the fire when he first joined the Bears. He was asked at the time why he chose Chicago. He said he “kinda enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Dick Vitale is on hand at Coleman Coliseum for the college basketball game between Alabama and Kentucky on Feb. 22, 2025. (Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News)
49ERS’ GEORGE KITTLE CARTED OFF FIELD WITH ACHILLES INJURY DURING WILD CARD ROUND VS EAGLES
The message sparked a few icy handshakes during the season, including one after the playoff game. Chicago went 1-1 against Green Bay in the regular season and defeated them when it counted the most.
The first-year head coach praised his players for their gritty performance, coming off two losses and going into halftime down 21-3. Johnson said his team was “built for pressure.”
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stands on the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field on Jan. 10, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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The Bears will face the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
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The wild-card round of the 2025 NFL playoffs is heading toward completion, and the divisional-round matchups are taking shape. The NFC pairings are set, with the San Francisco 49ers set to play the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams heading to play the Chicago Bears.
To look ahead at these games, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick out one thing we learned about the teams they cover during the wild-card round. (For the Seahawks, who didn’t play this week, Brady Henderson provided some info from what they did during the bye week.) Seth Walder also explored how each team can win to advance to the conference championship games, and we also provided projections from ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) and opening lines.
Let’s start with the 49ers against the Seahawks.
Jump to a matchup:
SF-SEA | LAR-CHI
NFC
When: TBD Saturday or Sunday
FPI projection: SEA, 61.3%
What we learned about the 49ers in the wild-card round: Common sense would suggest that a team playing without so many of its biggest stars — edge rusher Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and, as of Sunday, tight end George Kittle — would eventually run out of the magic that’s defined their unlikely postseason run. Sunday was not that day. Despite another devastating injury to a team leader, these Niners continue to defy conventional wisdom and carve a path few could have foreseen before the season. Sunday’s lesson was a familiar one — as long as these Niners get to keep playing, it’s unwise to count them out. — Nick Wagoner
What the Seahawks did during their bye week: It was hardly an off week for the Seahawks. They practiced outside in the elements on Wednesday and Thursday — in a light rain Wednesday and with temperatures in the low 40s and the wind blowing both days — as Mike Macdonald tried to get his team accustomed to playing in the kind of weather the Seahawks might get in the playoffs. “We’re not treating it like a regular-season bye week where guys are flying to Mexico and Hawaii and enjoying their time,” Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “I think we really celebrated that win against the Niners, but immediately that next day you could tell guys were like, ‘Hey, the job is not done. We’ve got a lot of work to do.'” — Brady Henderson
Why the 49ers will win: Because Sam Darnold is not the same player he was at the beginning of the season. Ten weeks into the season, the Seahawks’ quarterback led the NFL in QBR (77.8). But in Week 11, the Seahawks lost to the Rams and from that moment forward, Darnold ranked 27th (36.9) in the same metric! The 49ers will not fall into the trap other teams have against Seattle: matching the Seahawks’ big personnel with base defensive personnel. San Francisco is a nickel-heavy team, which will either invite Seattle to run or force Darnold into less favorable passing situations. And for all that went wrong in the 49ers’ season-finale loss in Week 18, they still held the Seahawks to just 13 points.
Giving Kyle Shanahan two weeks to study film after that loss might be enough for him to find some new ways to beat that seemingly-impenetrable Mike Macdonald defense. And the 49ers have a good passing game; they’ve averaged 0.17 EPA per dropback, which ranked sixth best among all teams and fifth best among those that made the playoffs. With All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams expected to play (he missed the Week 18 matchup), the 49ers definitely have a chance here.
Why the Seahawks will win: They proved it Week 18 in the battle for the No. 1 seed. Seattle shut down the 49ers offense with their ferocious defense, holding San Francisco to only three points. It was hardly an aberration: Seattle has the best defense in football and the stats are undeniable. No. 1 in EPA allowed per play. No. 1 in opponent’s success rate. And one of my favorites: Minus-30 first downs over expectation allowed on opponent runs according to NFL Next Gen Stats, doubling up the next-best team in the regular season (the Houston Texans at minus-15).
But there’s another reason for Seahawks optimism. While their passing game has not been the same in the second half of the season, they can offset that with a more reliable rushing attack against a 49ers’ defense that is hurting at linebacker. Both Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune are out, and Dee Winters missed San Francisco’s wild card game, too. — Walder
Matchup background: These teams met two weeks ago in the regular-season finale at Levi’s Stadium, with the Seahawks beating the 49ers 13-3 to clinch the NFC West and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The 49ers defeated Seattle 17-13 in the season opener at Lumen Field, with San Francisco forcing a late turnover to hold on. These franchises have split two previous playoff matchups, with Seattle winning the 2013 NFC Championship Game and the 49ers knocking out the Seahawks in the 2022 wild-card round. — ESPN
Stat to know: Darnold led the NFL with 20 turnovers this season (14 interceptions, six fumbles lost). This is the first time dating to 1978 that a player on a No. 1-seeded team has led the league in turnovers. — ESPN Research
0:17
Purdy finds McCaffrey for TD to put 49ers ahead late
Brock Purdy throws a touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey to give the 49ers the lead late in the fourth quarter vs. the Eagles.
When: TBD Saturday or Sunday
FPI projection: LAR, 61.2%
What we learned about the Rams in the wild-card round: The world once again saw why the Rams feel so confident in those got-to-have-it situations due to having Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Stafford led the Rams on two go-ahead touchdown drives in the fourth quarter against the Panthers, including one with 38 seconds left. “That’s why we’re advancing, because of his leadership,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. Stafford now has four career game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime of a playoff game. According to ESPN Research, the only quarterback with more since Stafford joined the Rams in 2021 is Patrick Mahomes (6). — Sarah Barshop
What we learned about the Bears in the wild-card round: The Bears continue to be one of the best second-half teams in the NFL. After trailing Green Bay 21-3 at halftime, Chicago scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to come from behind and beat the Packers. But as they’ve been saying all season, the Bears need to start faster on both sides of the ball. Chicago’s defense pressured Packers QB Jordan Love on only 18% of his dropbacks in the first half (versus 32% in the second half, including four times on the Packers’ last drive). Caleb Williams and the offense struggled until the Bears quarterback turned his deep-ball passing around in the second half, when he was 7-of-13 for 166 yards and a touchdown on passes of 15 or more air yards. In the first half, Williams was 2-for-5 for 40 yards and interception on such throws. — Courtney Cronin
Why the Rams will win: The Rams are arguably the best team in football — and the Bears are not. Don’t get me wrong, Chicago deserves plenty of credit for its remarkable season, but the numbers clearly favor Los Angeles. This is the team ranked second in EPA per play on offense, has the MVP favorite at quarterback, the best wide receiver in football and a solid offensive line that will give Stafford all day to throw against the Bears’ lacking pass rush.
The Bears have a strong running game, and we’ve certainly seen Williams have incredible moments. But in terms of EPA per play, the Rams have the advantage on both sides of the ball. Plus, we could argue that we didn’t see the true version of the Rams in the wild-card round after Stafford suffered an early finger injury (but still managed to orchestrate a comeback, anyway). And if wide receiver Puka Nacua had not had an incredibly uncharacteristic drop on what surely would have been a touchdown at the end of the first half, the Rams might have beaten the Panthers more comfortably.
And while the Rams’ defense is not perfect, each of the major players on defensive line — Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Poona Ford — can create mayhem for their opponents.
1:04
Recapping the Bears’ comeback win over Packers
Kimberely A. Martin recaps the performance of Caleb Williams and the Bears against the Packers.
Why the Bears will win: They can never be ruled out. Chicago added to its season of improbable victories with an incredible come-from-behind win over the Packers in which the Bears entered the fourth quarter down 15 points and exited it up four. In between, we witnessed the Bears at their absolute best. Williams made the throw of a lifetime on fourth-and-8 to keep their hopes alive and coach Ben Johnson used an imbalanced line to sell the screen of a screen-and-go, fooling the Packers’ secondary and freeing DJ Moore for a touchdown.
But what makes Chicago so threatening is that it won despite not even being the best version of itself. In the regular season, the Bears averaged a 48% success rate on designed runs (third best), but that number dropped to 28% against Green Bay. And even in victory, Williams had a 28% off-target rate and a minus-14% completion percentage over expectation (per NFL Next Gen Stats) — both solidly worse than his regular-season marks. They’ll be home underdogs against the Rams and Los Angeles’ offense should have a serious advantage over the Bears’ defense. But the Bears can generate turnovers, forcing a league-high 33 in the regular season. They’ll need more of that turnover variance to go their way against the Rams, but it’s doable. — Walder
Matchup background: The Rams and Bears did not play this season, with their most recent matchup coming in Week 4 of the 2024 season. Chicago prevailed 24-18 at Soldier Field, breaking a three-game losing streak to Los Angeles. This is only the third postseason matchup between these franchises and the first in 40 years. The Bears defeated the Rams 24-0 in the 1985 NFC Championship Game en route to the Super Bowl XX title, which is Chicago’s most recent NFL championship. — ESPN
Stat to know: After being sacked two or more times in 15 games last season, Williams has been sacked one or zero times in 11 games in 2025 (including Saturday’s playoff victory). The Rams had 47 sacks in the regular season and added two more in their wild-card win over Carolina. — ESPN Research
Sports
49ers’ George Kittle carted off field with Achilles injury during Wild Card Round vs Eagles: reports
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San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles in the second quarter of the Wild Card Round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kittle was carted off the field after being tackled following a catch in the second quarter. He immediately grabbed at his right ankle, and replay showed him give way to Zach Baun’s tackle without a fight to get off his leg.
Kittle was trying to encourage his teammates as he was being carted off, clapping in their direction. But it’s hard not to feel for the 32-year-old, who many consider the best tight end in the sport.
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George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off the field during the second quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
It’s a massive loss for the 49ers, as they try to take down the Eagles on the road to advance in the NFL Playoffs. The 49ers could’ve had the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and a bye week, but they fell to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18 to lose the NFC West title and those perks.
The last time the 49ers traveled to Philadelphia for a playoff contest was the 2022 NFC Championship Game, which proved brutal in the injury department as well for them.
BROCK PURDY SAYS 49ERS HAVE A ‘CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER’ ENTERING PLAYOFFS AFTER MISSING LAST SEASON
Quarterback Brock Purdy tore his UCL in his throwing elbow, and after backup Josh Johnson also got hurt, the 49ers were left lifeless at the position in what was a beatdown as the Eagles went to the Super Bowl.
George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off the field during the second quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Elsa/Getty Images)
While it wasn’t Purdy, Kittle is a key piece of this entire team, let alone the offense. He provides valuable leadership whether he’s on the field or not, and injuries have kept him out during the regular season as well.
Kittle dealt with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss five of the first six games of the 49ers’ regular season games. They also had him miss Week 17 due to an ankle ailment suffered in Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Even if the 49ers advance to the Divisional Round, they won’t have Kittle if he indeed has an Achilles tear.
George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off the field during the second quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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Kittle’s ninth year in the NFL saw him tally 57 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns across 11 games. He made his fifth straight Pro Bowl and seventh overall in 2025.
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