LFC WomenGareth Taylor column: Pride in performance against Chelsea and cup selection plans

I was really proud of the players on Sunday and I told them that after the game.

Chelsea are always a difficult opponent with the options that they have both in the starting XI and the bench. They are a top team and I believe they could field two different XIs in the Barclays Women’s Super League and both would finish in the top four.

We knew we would have to get everything right on the day to get something from the game and we gave a huge amount of energy. It was a mammoth effort from everyone.

We were actually a bit disappointed with the goal we gave away because it was an action we knew before they would try to execute and we were a little bit off it on that occasion.

But outside of that we nullified them. I can only remember [Catarina] Macario getting a chance in the first half and then [Aggie] Beever-Jones in the second half with a lob, but aside from that I can’t remember Faye [Kirby] having a save to make.

That is big credit to the girls. It is exceptional to do that against a team as strong as Chelsea and the only time I thought they might get a goal was something speculative from the edge of the box.

So, a huge credit to the players and it just goes to show that you can actually double down on the effort and endeavour.

I was really pleased to see Beata [Olsson] score again and she took it really well.

We had spoken before the game about getting her into the right positions because they wouldn’t be able to live with her pace, and she took her goal exceptionally well so I was really pleased.

Lily Woodham did great in that moment as well and got another assist for Beata.

Lily came so close to getting the winner for us with a great strike and I thought her performance was full of endeavour and hard work, so I was really pleased with her.

We now take a break from WSL action before the international break when we head to Sheffield United in the Subway Women’s League Cup at Bramall Lane on Saturday evening (6pm GMT kick-off).

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I see it as a good opportunity for us to qualify for the knockout stages but it’s still not done in the sense that we can make wholesale changes to the team.

I’m always cautious about doing that because with players who haven’t played for a long time, as much as you expect them to come in and do well, sometimes that is not the case.

We’ve got to get the balance right but I do think there will be some changes, but not wholesale ones. We are looking forward to the game and we want to qualify after two good performances so far against Sunderland and Durham.

Then it’s the international break before we get ready for a big push with some big games before Christmas.

Thank you for your continued support.

YNWA,

Gareth

Gareth Taylor was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com's Steve Hunter