Missy Bo Kearns – From Mossley Hill to Anfield. Photo Credit: Missy Bo Kearns via Instagram.
Fondly known as the scouser in the team, Liverpool’s number seven Missy Bo Kearns is Merseyside born and bred. The lifelong red has been at Liverpool Football Club for most of her football journey and is adored by fans, even clinching the nickname ‘Bo Salah’. But what has led to the rise of Missy Bo Kearns?
Born into a family full of Liverpool supporters, Kearns began her football journey at a young age. Surrounded by boys in the family, she was constantly around football and quickly grew to love it, joining local boys side Mossley Hill – the same team as fellow scouser and Liverpool player Curtis Jones. Being in such a strong side and around so many technical players at such a young age, players certainly raised each other standards, and being the only girl made Kearns into a tougher player too.
It was here that she was scouted by Liverpool at the age of eight and joined their academy. It was Everton player Toni Duggan who introduced Kearns to the academy system, where Kearns was approached by both Everton and Liverpool, choosing the latter. As a fellow scouser, Duggan was a big role model for Kearns – someone who has achieved so much, both internationally and at club level.
Kearns spoke of Liverpool Legend Steven Gerrard as another player she massively looked up to as a youngster. The fellow Liverpudlian’s ruthlessness and desire to win trophies is certainly reflected in this young talent.
The journey so far
Kearns progressed right through the academy system, winning the cup double with Liverpool Women’s development squad in the 18/19 season. She made her senior debut in March of that year against Chelsea, before signing her first professional contract in January 2020. Eager to get consistent game time, Bo Kearns joined championship side Blackburn Rovers on a loan deal right away, however only made three appearances as Covid 19 cut the season short.
Kearns returned to the Reds the following season yet was faced with a different challenge of the Championship, as Liverpool had been relegated from the Women’s Super League. Individually, this turned to be a real breakthrough year, scoring her first senior goal in January 2021 and seeing her named Standard Chartered Women’s Player of the Season. However the Reds failed to secure promotion this season and finished third in the second-flight.
Ahead of the 21/22 season, Kearns switched numbers from 21 to 7. Through playing prominently as a midfielder taking on a winger’s number, manager Matt Beard famously told her, “Kenny Dalglish wasn’t a winger, Luis Suarez wasn’t a winger!”. It’s clear that Beard has always had belief and confidence in the Liverpool youngster, and giving her such an important number which cemented her place in the squad really reinforced this.
Kearns made history in November 2021 when she became Liverpool Women’s youngest ever captain, leading the Reds out in a Continental Cup clash against Blackburn Rovers. With four goals and two assists, she was an integral part of the Championship-winning Liverpool side that secured promotion back into the WSL.
The 22/23 Season
Last season was massive for Missy Bo Kearns. It was her first real taste of WSL football, and she admitted that this was a big step up from the Championship. With less possession and less time on the ball, it took Kearns a while to find her feet and adjust her game. She often had to sit back and defend instead of playing her biggest strength which is her attacking football, as she did in the Championship. However, this was a season of development for the youngster, and she certainly developed into one of the most integral players of the squad.
Kearns was just one of two players, alongside Taylor Hinds, to make an appearance in all 28 matches in all competitions for the Reds last season. As the team grew more confident and settled into the league, so did she individually, scoring the decisive strike in three of Liverpool’s six WSL wins. Her celebrations say it all – Kearns’ love for the club just shines through and certainly fuels her passionate performances.
“It can’t just be a one-off season when I’ve done well. I’ve got to keep pushing, working hard and looking to develop, get better, learn and perform.” Missy Bo Kearns said.
“Since I was a kid, football was always a part of me. It’s part of our culture in Liverpool.”
A personal highlight for Missy Bo last season was walking out at Anfield for the Merseyside derby in front of 27,000 Liverpool fans. While the result wasn’t what Liverpool had hoped for, the experience of fulfilling a childhood dream was one she will never forget. With the ups and downs in their first season back in top-flight football, Kearns helped the Reds secure a solid seventh place finish, avoiding any real relegation battle. They had some real statement moments, for instance Kearns scoring the winner to beat Manchester City late on in the season, and Liverpool certainly proved why they deserve to be up against some of Europe’s best.
Appearing in all six WSL games so far this season, it’s clear that Kearns is a fundamental player in this Liverpool set-up. It’s her attacking play that is Kearns’ biggest asset: she tends to play behind the striker and can run forward to play as a false nine. Her positioning in midfield keeps Liverpool’s attacks alive – Kearns gives her teammates a pivot to play the ball off to wingers or directly to their striker. It’s her ability to control the ball and keep it tight that allows her to get the ball through opposing defences. Kearns has even started in Liverpool’s front line at the beginning of this season due to injuries in the squad and played with so much confidence, especially given this isn’t her natural position.
Missy Bo doesn’t just bolster Liverpool’s attacking threat, but their defence too. When needed, she can drop back, giving the backline an extra layer of protection and closing gaps in the middle of the pitch. It’s this football intelligence, spatial awareness and positional ability that makes her such a pivotal player and really enables her team to play such free-flowing football.
It’s not coincidence that Kearns has improved so much over the last few seasons. It’s the work behind the scenes which is really paying off and translating onto the pitch. For example, since last season, Kearns and fellow teammate Gemma Bonner have been working with a running coach on sprint mechanics. This has really improved her pace and technique, especially as the WSL is such a step-up in intensity from the Championship.
An inclusive game
Missy Bo Kearns is not only making strides on the pitch, but off it too. The 22-year-old has very openly spoken about her experience with ADHD and how the club and especially manager Matt Beard, have been able to adapt her game to allow her to play best, while still enabling Kearns to be fully herself. For example, Beard checking in with Kearns throughout the game, helping her to refocus; small details like this have made a huge difference for the midfielder. Kearns has always advocated for inclusivity in football: also sporting the word ‘autism’ on her custom-made boots as a proud reminder that the game is for everyone.
A born leader
Liverpool born-and-bred, Missy Bo is a real leader within the team. She has always the first to welcome new players with open arms. Having been at the club for most of her life, it’s clear that she wants to make sure new signings feel as comfortable in the team as she always has. It can’t be underestimated what players like this can do for team morale and bonding, which shows on and off the pitch. In an official Liverpool FC press release, Missy Bo Kearns spoke about her contract extension:
“Everyone knows I’m a Liverpool fan and I’ve been at the club since I was eight. Now I see my role as when the new players come in it’s about demanding the standards of what it is to be a Liverpool player and what we want to achieve as a club.”
Missy Bo Kearns has not only been a leader at club level, but internationally too. She has represented England at under 17s and under 19s level, and has captained the under 23s since September, where she led them out against Norway and Belgium. She’s a natural and confident leader and a crucial player too, with 7 goals in 14 appearances for her current age group. With other youth players such as Khiara Keating and Grace Clinton receiving their first senior call ups, Missy Bo Kearns is the next player on many people’s lists to get the nod from Wiegman. She has proved herself at club and throughout the age groups, and now really is a critical time for the 22-year-old to integrate with the senior squad.
Kearns openly set herself the personal goal of making the senior team last season, with the hopes of being selected for the World Cup last summer. However, Wiegman opted for a more experienced midfield, for instance taking Laura Coombs and Jordan Nobbs. It goes without saying that England do have an incredibly strong starting midfield with the likes of Walsh, Stanway and Kirby, however to give Kearns the experience to simply be around these players would be invaluable. In terms of integrating younger players into the squad, Kearns is a similar player to Jordan Nobbs, who’s played an integral role in the international set-up for many years.
A fan favourite
It’s clear that Missy Bo Kearns is absolutely adored by all Liverpool fans. They have such a deep appreciation for one of their own homegrown players who’s developed through the ranks, and a sense of relatability too. So much so that she was the fans’ 22/23 Liverpool Women’s Player of the Year, finishing ahead of teammates Katie Stengel and Ceri Holland, and was also voted Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association’s Player of the Season. Last season, Kearns was named Young Player of the Year at the Women’s Football Awards alongside Chelsea’s Lauren James, and just recently received the Women’s Rising Star at the North West Football Awards, ahead of the likes of Maya Le Tissier and Esme Morgan.
So many accolades at such a young age just shows how dedicated and determined the young scouser is. In fact, Kearns is so adored by the whole of Liverpool that last season she became the first women’s player to receive a mural in the city. Right next to Anfield, the famous image of her kissing the Championship trophy that secured the Reds top-flight football adorns the side of a house, painted by Paul Curtis. Just down the next street is a painting of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Steven Gerrard: all scousers, all held in the same esteem.
In an interview with Soccerbible, Kearns talked about how she wants to use her voice to show the next generation of players in Liverpool what they can achieve.
“It’s nice to be a role model for young girls but also, my younger cousins who are boys – they want my name on the back of their shirts. It’s a proud moment and I just want to keep going and do as much as I can to show what can be achieved.”
It’s safe to say that Liverpool wouldn’t be Liverpool without Missy Bo Kearns. She brings energy and an infectious joy to the team, and her love for the club just shines through. There’s still so much to come for “the normal girl from Liverpool whose dream has come true”. Bubbly, passionate and welcoming, Missy Bo Kearns truly optimises what it means to be a Scouser.
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