Rovers Ladies are in a good place, according to manager Gemma Donnelly, as her side prepare for the visit of Liverpool this afternoon.

Donnelly’s side have won three of their last four matches to climb up to sixth in the Women’s Championship ahead of the visit of the Reds to Bamber Bridge. That comes as part of Women’s Football Weekend as Rovers look to play their part in helping to grow the game.

Rovers are into their second season at this level, after promotion, and host a Liverpool side adapting to life in the second tier after relegation last term.

Donnelly feels confidence is flowing through her squad, as three defeats in their opening four matches has become nine points from the last 12 available.

She said: “It’s a relief because only a couple of weeks ago I’m scratching my head thinking ‘how are we going to move forward from this?’

“I feel that we’re in a position with our squad that we’ve strengthened from last season massively and was thinking what else can we do?

“We’ve since picked up a couple of good results, really good results, probably the most pleasing was against London Bees last weekend.

“All of a sudden we’re catapulted up the table, with a game in hand, and I feel that we’re in a really good place with the club, the team, the players.

“I’m quite a pleased manager at the minute.”

Liverpool have 14 points from their opening seven games, and will start as favourites. But Donnelly feels her side do have advantages over their opponents going into the game.

“Liverpool, and any team that’s full time, will be a challenge for us, because they have that time to work with the players and they have a better understanding of each other, they can get into more detail, and there’s the fitness,” she added.

“But we have belief, character and commitment within the squad and we played Liverpool pre-season and it was a good test for us, but one thing we’ve slightly over them is we’ve learned from this league.

“We will continue to learn, but I’ve learned about the grounds, the managers, the players in the mix, so I’d like to think I’m a bit ahead of the game in that sense, with them just entering in the Championship this season.

“They have been relegated from the Super League into the Championship and lost an awful lot of players so they’ve had to pick around and secure playing talent in quite a short period of time and like us they’re trying to build a squad as well for this particular league.

“We can’t underestimate the dynamics of the team and I feel we’re in a really good place.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to compare ourselves and gauge ourselves against the best team out there.”

Today’s game kicks off at 2pm and will be shown live on YouTube.