To say that the Liverpool FC Women have endured a difficult start to the season would be an understatement. The offseason was one of turmoil and change as it took several months to sort out the gardening leave of Gareth Taylor so he could be appointed the club’s new manager, leading to a late start to install his tactical vision and a late start to making significant moves in the transfer window. On top of all that, the club made the decision to sell their brightest young talent, Olivia Smith, for a then world record fee.
The short timeframe for training under the new manager, as well as a raft of new faces joining at the end of the transfer window, have understandably made for bumps in the early going. Gareth Taylor has explained his vision of being a possession-heavy side that build out of the back, and the lack of time together has caused some disjointed moments as the side work to figure out their patterns of play. To top everything off, the players and staff have had to deal with the sudden loss of former manager Matt Beard, a man who meant so much to so many.
While some grace period is to be expected for Taylor and his side, the lack of results and a distinct lack of edge leaves plenty of cause for concern. Liverpool have still yet to record a point in the WSL through the opening five matches, leaving them second from bottom on goal difference. Through those games, the Reds have only found the net twice. Cornelia Kapocs scored in the 12th minute of the opening match, and then it took until the 52nd minute of the fifth match for Kapocs to find the net again.
The lack of goals comes down to both personnel and tactics. Gareth Taylor has had to deal with fitness and injury issues for Sophie Roman Haug and Leanne Kiernan, leading to Mia Enderby leading the line in his favored 4-3-3 formation. While Enderby has plenty of youthful energy and some tricky foot skills to go along with solid pace, she also has a distinct lack of cutting edge to her game. Enderby has yet to score a league goal for the Reds and only has one assist in her 36 WSL appearances. Beata Olsson was a signing late in the transfer window who many thought could step into a striker role, but the Swede has struggled to cement a spot in the side.
Tactically, Liverpool have also struggled to create chances. Gareth Taylor has stressed a desire for possession from his side, and his side has is in the top half of the league based on possession. Unfortunately, it has mostly been possession without intent on the attacking end. The Reds are last in the league in both goals per 90 minutes (0.4) and shots per 90 minutes (6.4). Liverpool are also only above Leicester City for touches in the attacking penalty box, averaging just under 13 touches per 90 minutes. The Reds are middle of the pack when it comes to possession in the attacking third, and have the second most touches in the middle third, so it has mostly come down to a lack of commitment to get the ball into the box. Instead, Liverpool have frequently recycled possession, sometimes going all the way back to the goalkeeper, rather than make an incisive pass into the box. This is something Gareth Taylor has noted needs to be fixed.
The lack of thrust into the box and the lack of shot creation also likely comes down to personnel to some degree. Despite signing three fullbacks this summer, Taylor has not had the ability to play two natural fullbacks in a match yet. Lily Woodham has unfortunately suffered two injuries since the start of the season, limiting her to just 107 minutes across two matches. While on the pitch, she has generated the most shot creating actions per 90 minutes. The other natural left back, Alejandra Bernabé, was injured when signed and is just working her way up to fitness. Lucy Parry has also dealt with injury problems this season, with loan signing Risa Shimizu featuring the most out of any fullback at just 179 minutes. Shimizu has most frequently been deployed as the left back rather than on her more natural right side, which has also limited her attacking output. Center backs Grace Fisk and Gemma Evans have spent significant time playing at fullback, which has certainly blunted any attacking verve from the outside back spot.
While the fullbacks have been limited due to injury, the midfield has had a fairly full compliment of first choice players but struggled to create consistently. Interestingly, Gareth Taylor has deployed Liverpool’s best midfielder, Ceri Holland, as a right-sided attacker. The Reds have certainly missed her engine, grittiness, and drive through the center of the pitch. Taylor has opted for a midfield trio of Fuka Nagano, Marie Höbinger, and Sam Kerr with Holland playing further forward. While on paper it would seem a strong midfield, the trio has not stamped their impact on games. Höbinger has still been the most creative player for the club, but she has often been deployed in a slightly deeper role with Sam Kerr playing the furthest forward of the midfielders. Höbinger still leads the club in both shots and shot creating actions, but the Austrian was lost for the season in the last match league match after tearing her ACL. Young Kirsty Maclean will need to step into the creative role, and has exhibited some good vision and passing range in her time this season.
Sam Kerr’s role in midfield is still a bit of a mystery. She has frequently been the player furthest forward, sprinting up to press high, often on her own. While in possession she has floated out to the right, but has not really been in a role to offer support on the ball. She averages just under 34 touches per 90 minutes, putting her only ahead of Mia Enderby for the regular starters on the pitch. She has the lowest shot creating actions of midfield and attacking players and averages just 25 passes per 90 minutes. Despite being the main presser, she is low on the team list for tackles attempted and tackles won. It seems like there is some refinement needed to Kerr’s role to bring her in to play much more frequently to complement the rest of the midfield.
While the attacking side of things has been anemic for Liverpool, they have done fairly well to limit good opportunities for their opponents. Despite conceding an average of 2 goals per game, the Reds have held opponents to a non-penalty expected goals total of just over 1 per 90 minutes which is the fourth best record in the league. There have been a few errors that have led to goals, but there have also been some wonderstrikes and just plain unlucky deflections that have doomed the Reds as well. Gemma Bonner has again been an anchor in the middle, playing alongside either Jenna Clark or Gemma Evans. Due to the lack of healthy fullbacks, there have been several matches where Liverpool have lined up four center backs across the back line.
So where does all of this leave us? This squad is certainly better than their points total, but a combination of evolving tactics and injuries have blunted the attacking output. Losing Marie Höbinger for the season is a massive blow for the creativity in the side, and it may behoove Gareth Taylor to bring Ceri Holland back into midfield and deploy Mia Enderby or Beata Olsson out right. Someone will also need to step up in the attacking band to lead the line as it is clear that Mia Enderby is not a central striker. Beata Olsson or Sophie Roman Haug will hopefully be able to step up and find ways to get on the ball in the box. UPDATE: It was announced this morning that Sophie Roman Haug suffered an ACL tear during a cup match with Durham and will be out for the rest of the season. Regardless of the personnel, much more bravery from the squad will be required to get the ball in and around the box more regularly rather than continually go backwards with the ball. Having actual fullbacks manning the fullback positions should help with that if they can ever get healthy.
More time in Gareth Taylor’s system should bring improved performances, but there are still holes in this team, especially in the attack. Liverpool did not adequately address the loss of Olivia Smith, who was the key attacking piece last season. Beata Olsson has yet to find her feet with the club after joining on deadline day and now season-ending injuries to Marie Höbinger and Sophie Roman Haug leave the Reds paper thin yet again. At this point, just surviving to stay in the WSL for another season is the likely goal. For the club to ensure that, they will need to be active in the January window to find players who can provide creativity and a cutting edge in the attack.