Liverpool Ladies boss Matt Beard says his side are not under pressure this season, despite major investment in the team, reports BBC Sport. The Reds' have signed 12 new players including England international Fara Williams and are expected to challenge Arsenal for honours.

"Arsenal are still the team to beat and Birmingham are still the challengers," Beard told BBC Sport.

Liverpool have finished bottom of the summer league in the past two seasons.

The club released 10 players and six of their new additions are from abroad, which is rare for the English league.

United States international defender Whitney Engen was the first signing, before midfielders Amanda Da Costa (United States), Louise Fors (Sweden), Katrin Omarsdottir (Iceland), Nicole Rolser (Germany), and defender Corina Schroder (Germany) joined the ranks.

"We're moving in the right direction with the players we've brought in," Beard continued.

"We'll just keep working as hard as we can and hopefully at the end of the year we can be there or thereabouts.

"It's a new squad and I've told the players, they're not under pressure. The club aren't putting any pressure on us."