Liverpool Women twice came from behind before ultimately falling to a 4-2 defeat against defending champions Manchester City in the Women's Super League on Friday. The result leaves Liverpool third in the table with four points from their opening three matches, but manager Gareth Taylor was encouraged by a significant step forward in performance.
Taylor, who previously managed City, said his team showed the kind of form that will bring victories this season. "Playing that way, we believe we’ll win a lot of games this season," he told reporters after the match. He added that the display was a clear upgrade on their efforts at the end of the previous campaign.
Lauren Hemp opened the scoring for the hosts in the 13th minute, meeting a sharp pass from Carlotta Wamser. Liverpool responded quickly, with Vivien Endemann setting up Alice Bergström for a 19th-minute equaliser after a defensive mix-up. Endemann then put Liverpool ahead herself nine minutes later, finishing off a move involving Csilla Kapocs to open her account for the club following a debut goal on the opening weekend.
City levelled just before half-time through Khadija Shaw, capitalising on an error by former City goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Keating, who moved to Liverpool in the summer, made a sharp save to deny Shaw again in the second half as the game remained poised. The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute when substitute Grace Clinton's dangerous near-post cross was turned into her own net by defender Grace Fisk. Hemp then sealed the win with her second goal on a stoppage-time counterattack.
Andrée Jeglertz, the City manager who took charge last summer, praised his team's relentless mentality. "I'm very pleased with the mentality of the group. They never stop believing, they keep on going and, in the end, we are winners," he said. His side maintains a perfect home league record under his leadership.
The match was preceded by a minute's applause across WSL grounds to mark a year since the death of former Liverpool manager Matt Beard, who led the club to back-to-back league titles starting in 2013. On the pitch, the performance offered Liverpool tangible hope. They have scored seven goals in three league games, though they now trail leaders Manchester City by five points.
Taylor's assessment was focused on the bigger picture. "What you saw was a more improved version of what we were towards the end of last season," he said. The team now turns its attention to a Merseyside derby, hosting Everton at home on Sunday, 27 September. Everton currently sit eighth in the WSL.
The report in full is at The Guardian Football
