ReactionGareth Taylor on why Tottenham draw gives LFC Women 'loads to build on'
Gareth Taylor was left 'proud' of Liverpool FC Women's performance against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, believing it gives his team 'loads to build on'.
The Reds earned a hard-fought point in the Barclays Women's Super League at St Helens Stadium in their first home fixture of the new campaign.
Substitute Aurélie Csillag’s second half goal ensured Liverpool would come away with a point, after the visitors struck following Signe Gaupset's cross being deflected into the net by Sam Kerr.
Read on below for the head coach's post-match reaction to Sky Sports…
On his reflections on the game...
Yeah, really similar. I'm really proud of the performance. I felt we were the better team. We improved in the second half, but I felt that we were probably the team that were looking more likely in the first half. I think where we've just probably come up short today is our final action. Outside of the goal and a couple of good saves from [Lize] Kop, I think that we could work the goal a little bit more.
For the amount of play that we had it felt in the second half that Tottenham really couldn't get out of their half but only for a couple of moments. I'm really proud of the team and where we've taken it to now. I thought the goal was quality and I thought we could have had a penalty. I don't think the Aurélie one is a penalty, but I think the Vivien Endemann one is because it's taken the foot which has taken the ball. It's one of those. There are loads of positives and loads to build on.
On Endemann's penalty claim and how he saw it...
Just that there's a tackle that's gone in on Viv as she's moved the ball, which has I think taken her foot before it takes the ball. Again, I might need a microscope to be able to see it properly and obviously you're going to get my side of it, which is a biased coach who wants it to go in our favour.
I think on another day we get given that penalty and things look a little bit different. We looked like the team more likely at the end to force the ball in. As much as we're disappointed, that's a real good sign of the progress we're making.
On Liverpool's pressing and possession looking to be the style he implements this season...
Absolutely. There are a lot of elements of our game today that we're really satisfied with. Tottenham are a good team. They're not going to give up the spaces easily. They wanted to be aggressive and change their press in the first half to try and stop us gaining so much ball. At times the spaces changed. Aurélie coming onto the pitch is a different type of proposition for back fours where she's physically very good.
She'll run in the spaces, and I thought she took her goal really well. Thought it was an excellent goal from us to play down the right. That's more of what I want. Then the final bit is the thing that all coaches are looking for, that someone who can just come up with that little bit of magic. But we'll have it on other days for sure.
On bringing on Csillag for Beata Olsson at half-time...
Aurélie was close to starting today because we know that she's given Tottenham problems in the past. I think particularly [Toko] Koga. No-one wants to play against that physical outlet. If Tottenham are going to be aggressive in their press, they're going to leave spaces in the back line. We just felt that Aurélie is more suited to that and regardless of our goal, sometimes these things work in your favour. I think it's always about what the opposition are doing that dictate the personnel we look for. Beata is fine.