Gareth Taylor sets out WSL survival plan during “busy” transfer window

Gareth Taylor addressed the media this afternoon surrounding Liverpool FC Women’s Barclays Women’s Super League return on Sunday against London City Lionesses.

Firstly, addressing the winter break and the different challenges that can bring, Taylor discussed how he assessed the first half of the season over the break:

“I spoke before the break about working in a logical way, and having a logical brain has allowed me to be fair in my assessments, fair to myself, the team and the club. Everyone was aware of where we were as a club, the players we lost in the transfer window and where we wanted to get too, so I think at times, where we wanted to get too is tough.

This has turned into survival, we have to survive this season so this transfer window has turned really key, I think it might be the busiest one ever in the women’s game this window.”

Liverpool themselves have moved very quickly with the window only nine days old at the time of writing, adding Jennifer Falk to their goalkeeping ranks and Alice Bergström to the squad also, with Taylor glowing in his reports of both new signings:

“Alice (Bergstrom) is a player we have had our eye on for quite a while; we feel Alice’s profile is suited to being a right back, she can see the game really well from there, make good supporting runs and support the team. 

She can also play as a 7, as a right winger, so I think it is an attractive proposition for us, as we are quite light in the top end of the pitch which we are working on this window.

The other player we brought in so far was Jennifer Falk, which for me is a top signing. She brings a wealth of experience for us, I believe she is in the top five goalkeepers in the world, and we are really fortunate in getting her. As it stands it’s only a loan, with an option to maybe develop that further, but we of course have to make sure the player enjoys their time here too.

Her experience and knowledge and knowhow on the international stage, can only be a good thing for us.”

One of the more intriguing stories on this particular game, is that it will be the first game in English football managed by new London City Lionesses boss, Eder Maestre, who took the reigns at The Copperjax Community Stadium after Jocelyn Prechuer was dismissed: 

“It makes it really difficult, I watched a lot of his team at Tenerife, and I think it is a really good appointment. Does he go in and try to play how he did at Tenerife, that part makes it difficult, but I really want to say it’s a good appointment and the way we prepare for that game, is that it will change.” 

As eluded too earlier, the break off in the women’s game can either come at the right time or the wrong time, with teams facing up to three weeks off if not competing in various cups and competitions alongside league action, with players, staff and football clubs as a whole tending to try and take a break in the festive season:

“It’s a really weird period, because you have effectively two weeks, three weeks if not in the League Cup which is a real difficult situation. We came in on the 30th and 31st, off New Years Day and played a game against Nottingham Forest on the fourth, so we have tried to get as much time on the pitch again, with players needing to be fresh.” 

Finally, Taylor gave an update on the state of his squad and how his players returned from Christmas break.

“Leanne Kiernan and Hannah Silcock were pre-Christmas and are a little while away from returning, Grace Fisk is back because we didn’t have her before the break, Sam Kerr is going to be slightly longer with the nature of the injury she has. 

Gemma Bonner is back from her niggle and the suspension she has, so we are slightly better with her and (Grace) Fisk returning. Beatta Olsson is out of the game this weekend with a knock, but it limits our options at the top of the pitch a little, but we are working hard to get players in.”