How would you sum up Liverpool’s start to the season?
Emilie: “I think it’s fair to say Liverpool’s start to the season has been far from ideal. They’ve faced a mixed run of fixtures in terms of difficulty on paper, but are yet to pick up a single point, leaving them second from bottom on goal difference.
“Their campaign began in disappointing fashion with a home defeat to Everton at Anfield, which was hardly the ideal way to set the tone for the season. Since then, results have continued to go against them. While defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City might be forgiven given the quality of opponent, the performances against Leicester and London City Lionesses will have left fans frustrated.
“However, they lost their biggest threat in Olivia Smith to Arsenal in the summer, had an injury to Leanne Kiernan to deal with, and now both Marie Höbinger and Sophie Roman Haug are out of action having torn their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). All of these have been major blows to Liverpool’s personnel.”
Good performance against City last time out – just what has been missing so far?
Emilie: “Despite their struggles, Liverpool have shown flashes of promise that suggest there’s still something to build on. Their second-half performance against Manchester City before the international break, in particular, was a sign of the resilience and energy the side can produce.
“They’ve conceded 10 goals in their opening five matches, fewer than both West Ham and London City Lionesses, but I would say their main issues have been at the other end of the pitch. Creativity has been lacking and they’re missing that cutting edge in the final third. They’ve managed just two goals so far in the WSL, both scored by Cornelia Kapocs in their first and most recent fixtures.
“I think they need to be braver going forward and take more risks in and around the box if they want to turn things around. Since taking charge, Gareth Taylor has introduced a possession-based approach, and while they have done well to hold the ball in several matches, that control hasn’t always translated into real attacking intent. Taylor has noted this is something they’re actively working to fix.”
Who would be your ‘one to watch’ on Sunday?
Emilie: “As scorer of both Liverpool’s league goals so far this campaign, Kapocs is perhaps the most obvious player to watch out for. The Swede’s header against Manchester City was the perfect example of her excellent finishing abilities. She has a knack for impactful moments and also opened the scoring in Liverpool’s in 3-2 win over Spurs in this same fixture last season, producing a stunning lob from distance.
“However, Ceri Holland has arguably been their most valuable attacking player so far. She’s usually known for her tireless work-rate, acting as the central engine of Liverpool’s midfield, but since his arrival, Taylor has chosen to deploy her on the right. Her dangerous delivery from this position provided the assist for Kapocs’ goal against Manchester City and she found the net herself in Liverpool’s recent cup match against Durham. It was an impressive contribution considering she’d only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes.”
How has Gareth Taylor settled into his new role?
Emilie: “As I said before, Taylor is known for his possession-based approach, and this is definitely starting to show in Liverpool’s performances. But considering his appointment didn’t come until very late in pre-season in August, there hasn’t been much time for Taylor to fully embed his ideas within the squad. There are definitely signs of progress, but after five consecutive league defeats, the pressure is starting to build up. You’d expect that eventually results will have to be prioritised over building his style.”
What can we expect from Liverpool this weekend?
Emilie: “I think you can expect Liverpool to set up in their usual 4-1-4-1 formation that they’ve been regularly playing in under Taylor. More injuries out wide mean their full-back options have been pretty limited in the early stages of this season, and on occasion, they’ve even had four centre-backs lining up on the back line.
“At times this has stunted their ability to create chances on the flanks, but it also means they’ve been more of a challenge to break down. Liverpool certainly frustrated Manchester City when they made the trip to Anfield, and it will be interesting to see how Spurs tackle their defensive wall.”
Last time out against the Reds