ColumnGareth Taylor: First win was coming, now we have to go again
In his latest column, Liverpool FC Women head coach Gareth Taylor reflects on the win over Tottenham Hotspur and previews Sunday’s Barclays Women’s Super League trip to Manchester United.
It felt good to get that first win in the WSL this season and we knew it was coming.
It’s no coincidence that we’ve been able to make some reinforcements to the squad this month and we’ve now got more options at the front end of the pitch.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t use Martha Thomas for the game but I thought Aurélie Csillag, on debut, did a really good job for us. She made it really difficult for the Spurs defensive line, she caused problems with her pace and power.
I thought we played well but there are still areas of our game that we need to improve on. We had good chances and limited Tottenham to effectively one chance, which our goalkeeper Jennifer Falk did amazingly well with.
She was so quick off her line and spread herself really well to keep the score goalless. I think, from there, that is where we found the belief to go on.
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Watch on YouTubeWe hit the post on a couple of occasions, we had good opportunities and it was case of forcing the ball over the line.
Great credit to the players because they certainly did that, the crowd were right behind us as well, as always, and you could feel something was brewing.
Denise O’Sullivan’s leadership qualities on the pitch are there for everyone to see and she will only get better. I’m so pleased to have brought her in.
We probably thought we’d had our moment when Alice [Bergstrom] hit the post in the 92nd minute but we got the goal and it’s great to get that first win. We can really build on that.
I was pleased for Mia [Enderby] to get her goals and she did exactly what we asked of her. Her contribution was great.
We have spoken to our strikers about getting across the near post and it’s something we can do more, not necessarily always to score but to make space for people and occupy the centre-backs and the goalkeeper.
Mia did really well with the second goal because she had a lot of time to think about it.
We now take confidence from this win into our away game with Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday (11.55am GMT kick-off).
United have made, I feel, significant strides this season but as always we will give it everything we have got and we know how loud you will be with us as well.
Thank you for your continued support.
YNWA,
Gareth
Gareth Taylor was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com's Steve Hunter