Liverpool women's match with Aston Villa has been postponed on Sunday following the tragic death of former Reds boss Matt Beard, 47.

Beard was in charge of Liverpool twice during his 17-year career in women's football management, winning back-to-back league titles in 2013 and 2014.

The club posted on X: 'Liverpool's Barclays Women's Super League fixture against Aston Villa today has been postponed.

'Following the sudden and tragic news of the passing of former LFC Women manager Matt Beard, the match at Villa Park – scheduled for 12pm BST – will not take place. Details of a rearrangement will be confirmed in due course.'

Beard was most recently appointed Burnley manager but resigned after just two months in charge. The Clarets confirmed that their match against West Brom, which was scheduled for Sunday, had also been postponed.

Women's football were left in a state of shock on Saturday night when it was confirmed that Beard had died.

Tributes flooded in, with former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes describing Beard as a 'champion of the women's game'.

The USWNT boss wrote: 'Can't quite compute this. Absolutely one of the best humans.

'Always available for a chat, one of the good guys. A champion in the women's game and a top bloke. So gutted for his family.'

He began coaching in the women's game in 2008, and had stints at Chelsea, Millwall Lionesses and West Ham alongside Liverpool.

Chelsea said in a statement that Beard 'helped shape Chelsea Women' during his three-year tenure and credited him for 'laying much of the foundations' ahead of Hayes replacing him in 2012 before she embarked on a trophy-laden spell.

He went on to win WSL titles in his first spell in charge of Liverpool, between 2012 and 2015. On returning to the club in 2021, he secured promotion back into the top flight in his first season, before guiding them to a fourth-placed finish in his second.

The WSL announced that a minute's silence will be held across all other games taking place in the league and WSL2 on Sunday. Chelsea's meeting with Leicester, Brighton's match with West Ham and Arsenal's trip to Manchester United are all set to go ahead.

The WSL said in a statement: 'Clubs across the Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2 will take part in a minute's silence ahead of kick-off at games today in memory of Matt Beard following his passing.'