ReactionGareth Taylor on Chelsea draw: 'We stuck to the task and worked so hard'

The Reds earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the reigning Barclays Women’s Super League champions at St Helens Stadium.

Beata Olsson was on target for Liverpool as she scored her third goal in three games to level Alyssa Thompson’s earlier opening effort for the visitors.

• Match report: Beata Olsson scores as Liverpool battle to Chelsea draw in WSL

Head coach Taylor gave his post-match thoughts to the media in a press conference – read a round-up below…

On the performance and result...

I felt the girls executed the plan really well. I felt they adapted well in the second period when Chelsea went to a back three. They made numerous changes but at that point they kept everything the same. The plan was to try to get pressure to the ball as much as we could and try to identify a side of the pitch where we felt we could cause them problems with our pressing.

I was actually really disappointed with the first goal because it’s a moment we worked on so much in training. They executed it and we were half a yard off. But, to be honest, it was good character from the girls bouncing back to score. Bee [Olsson] did really well. I think apart from a chance for [Catarina] Macario, we limited them to very little. I felt if they were going to get anything at all it would be something from outside the box because we defended the box so, so well.

On how hard his players worked for the result, with no substitutions made...

It’s difficult in those moments. You’re always pulling with the idea of whether to make a change or not. Sometimes it can give a bit of support but also players who are out there have been doing it for long enough. I think it’s another opportunity for those girls who played today to get fitter and that’s the real positive from it we can take. They really stuck to the task and worked so hard and got a reward of a point in the end.

On Olsson’s recent form...

I feel that she’s really coachable. I feel she deserves all she gets because she works tremendously hard. We had an opportunity to work with her in the international break on an individual basis. She’s aware that she’s got things to improve on in her game but she’s got that raw pace and energy. It gives you an outlet with the ball and without the ball she presses relentlessly. She doesn’t always quite get it right! But her attitude and her enthusiasm are first-class.

On his team’s position in the WSL standings...

We’re at the bottom end of the table. We’re bottom of the table now but before the game we were at the bottom end. It’s a place we don’t want to be but that’s the reality. We know where we’re at and we know that we have to improve so many things on and off the pitch at the club. The girls are trying their best and really giving it absolutely everything. It’s not an issue.

On Fuka Nagano’s performance...

I thought she was really impressive last week [against Brighton & Hove Albion] with the ball. I thought today she was a little bit off it with the ball but without the ball she was very good. She tries to do so much for the team and we try to put more demands on her in doing her job. I think last week when we conceded late, she fell into the back line. Her job is to stop the cutback but you can’t help but admire players like that because all they’re trying to do is help the team.

Our job is just to guide them and say you’re helping by doing your job. I thought she was crucial today, particularly in that second half. I never felt that they had any real chances in the second half and that’s down to the back line and Fuka making sure we’re clearing everything out of the box.

On his players sticking to their task throughout the game...

I said previously that Chelsea have two teams that they could put out in the WSL and would probably be in the top three. I think what we’ve done today is pretty remarkable. Of course, on any given day you can also win that game and games can go your way, but we’ve had to work tremendously hard today to get something from the game. It’s nice the girls get a little bit of reward for that.

On Risa Shimizu’s absence...

She completed the 90 minutes against Brighton last week and had a bit of an issue with her hamstring, so she’s got a bit of a tear. We’re hoping it’s not going to keep her out too long. She doesn’t feel in too much pain, but we had to adapt things today and move Fisky [Grace Fisk] to right-back, which we didn’t want to do because I think she’s been having some of her best games at centre-back. But Gemma Evans did well, as did the whole back line and players in front of them, they did very good today.