Matt Beard insists Liverpool must tighten up at the back to recover from last weekend's FA Cup exit at the hands of Women's Super League rivals Leicester.

The Reds saw their dreams of silverware end in the quarter-finals as they slipped to a 2-0 home defeat to the Foxes.

Beard's side had won three on the spin but the 46-year-old boss cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as the unbeaten run ended at Prenton Park.

And he has challenged his side to return to winning ways when they host West Ham in the WSL on Sunday.

Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "There's no doubt it was a very disappointing day for us against Leicester and I look back on it as an opportunity missed.

"It was a tough one to take and I still can't put a finger on the performance.

"I just think when we started the way we did and gave them an early goal, it's difficult, especially against a team like Leicester who are well organised defensively.

"From a defensive point of view the first goal was uncharacteristically really poor from us with the gap they had to exploit. We were masters of our downfall.

"However, as I've said before, we've had times when we have not done so well then bounced back, so our focus now is to finish as high up the league as we can.

"We have to make sure we don't let one result affect what has been a really good season for us so far.

"Yes, it's disappointing because we would have loved the opportunity to progress and get into a semi-final. But that has gone now and we have to show a lot of character and make sure we come back stronger."

West Ham sit just above the WSL relegation zone, 13 points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool, but Beard expects a tough match against Rehanne Skinner's side.

He added: "West Ham are improving every week. 

"There are no easy games in the WSL and we have to make sure we're at our best."