ReactionGareth Taylor on Aston Villa win: 'The girls gave it everything'
The Reds claimed an important three points at St Helens Stadium in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.
Mia Enderby, Martha Thomas, captain Grace Fisk and substitute Aurélie Csillag were all on target for Liverpool in a clinical performance.
Miri Taylor, meanwhile, netted for the visitors, though Taylor's squad secured a deserved victory to make it back-to-back wins on home soil.
Read on below for post-match reaction from the head coach…
On his players showing 'courage'...
We did. I think we caused Villa problems in the first half. I think when you get to 2-0 it's always a funny scoreline. We felt after that we went a little bit flat if we're really being honest and allowed a little bit of territory for Villa. Overall, I was pretty happy with the first half. I hated the second half - I have to be honest! I understand the anxiety because we want to hold onto something and it's very rare we've been in that situation this season. It's a new kind of experience.
I understand why we were probably kicking a little bit longer. But I felt there were opportunities to play because when we play we open teams up and we get opportunities. It's not always about playing short. You can see there with Gemma Bonner at the end [her assist for Aurélie Csillag] there were spaces beyond because we've been brave instead of just taking a free-kick and kick it long. We've been brave, pulled them out of position and used the spaces that they leave.
On whether the slight drop off with a goal lead was down to confidence...
I wouldn't necessarily say confidence, but I feel that the most important thing I have to get across to them is to play with courage. We didn't really do that last week. We probably matched up Man United and played more direct like they do and they're very good at it. Aston Villa are probably the same and nine times out of 10 are probably better than us at doing that way. When we play, we show our quality and we get opportunities and we took our chances today, which was really good.
On how 'significant' the win felt...
It's big because of the confidence and I think also Villa are six points away from us. I think we claw them back in a little bit. I know some of the other results - West Ham won late and Everton won - so we just have to do what we need to do. We know the games against those teams are going to be really crucial.
On whether he is focusing on the table or just on each game...
The table hasn't been great viewing for us this season so probably less on the table. I think it’s attacking each game as it comes. You can see the team since the turn of the year with the new signings we brought in, whether they play or don't play, it just gives us options. We were able to change things up today a little bit and bring fresh energy onto the pitch. We weren't able to do that in the first part of the season and that's massive, especially for the way we want to play. Fair play - the girls gave it everything today and really grinded out a good home win for us.