Missy Bo Kearns: 'I'm very proud to play 100 games for Liverpool, it's ...

On where she sees her development at the moment with still being a young player…

I’m still 22 and nearly 23, but in football that’s young. On the other side of that, though, I can’t really class myself as a young player because I’m experienced. I’m hitting 100 games for Liverpool so I don’t want to be known as a young player but realistically I think I am. I’ve still got a lot to learn and improve on. I know that myself so now it’s about bringing the best of me to help the team and to improve so I can take the next steps and go on to the next level with my game.

On being given the captain’s armband with England U23s…

I think it’s given me a bit more experience and opportunity to develop as a person not only as a player. I’d been with the U23s the year before and I was playing a lot of games and scoring goals but I think this extra responsibility helps me ensure that I’m consistent and brings my best attributes out to help the team as much as possible. I think it’s given me more of a role where I can showcase what I bring off the pitch as well as on the pitch. I’m really enjoying it. It’s a great experience and I’m obviously still learning, so if I can learn and develop as much now at such a young age it’s only going to benefit me in the future.

On the progress of the team so far this season being in the top half of the table…

We knew we could do it. We said in pre-season we should be pushing to be in that top bracket and I think we’re showing it consistently now whereas last season we were up and down. Obviously we’ve had a few little rocky spells but it’s about how you react from them and this season we’ve been snapping back into tune quite quickly and I think that’s where we’ve improved as a squad. We’re here to compete and show that we’re not here just to fill the numbers up.

On challenging Manchester United for fourth spot…

Yes, we’re pushing but we’ve just got to focus on what’s in front of us right now. We still have Manchester United to play at home but that’s a long way off yet. There’s the international break first and that game is still weeks and weeks away and, of course, other results can dictate different things.

We’ve just got to focus on us and on making sure we pick up as many points as possible and in the end the table will speak for itself. You’ve got to control the controllables and if you’re thinking about something in a few weeks’ time, then you’re not fully focused on the game that’s ahead. So that’s where my head’s at and it’s game by game for me.

On some words of comfort for Danish midfielder Sofie Lundgaard, who picked up a season-ending knee injury recently…

I’m gutted for her. She’s my close mate and she’s worked so hard and had been performing really well. The timing of it has been awful. I’m devastated for her and I wish her a speedy recovery. Sofie’s still been smiling around the training ground, which is nice. We’re all here for her and I know she’ll be back stronger.