JUST LIKE STARTING OVER? Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor speaks
Can Liverpool’s big FA Cup win, 6-0, in front of a record crowd at London Bees, get their season out of intensive care and into recovery mode? Head coach Gareth Taylor talks to Helen M Jerome about a statement victory.
This was an impressive and confident performance from every single Liverpool player – starters and subs. It featured instant, impactful debuts – and first-half goals – from both Martha Thomas (on loan from Spurs) and Denise O’Sullivan (the NWSL veteran signed from North Carolina Courage for a “club record fee”).
There were also two absolute worldie strikes from another January signing, wingback and supersub, Alice Bergstrom (signed from BK Häcken). The 22-year-old Sweden international struck in the 87th and 88th minutes, one from long range, the second from near the right touchline!
Another bonus for Liverpool fans was the debut of their youngest ever player, Maizie Trueman at 16 years and 88 days, beating the previous record of 16 years and 150 days, coincidentally set by another homegrown youngster in the starting XI, Lucy Parry.
Do you think this can turn your season around?
Well, look, I think we’ve got work to do, we know that.
We started off in the positive last week [0-0 draw with London City Lionesses].
We didn’t have Denise [O’Sullivan] last week, we didn’t have Martha [Thomas], but I think we’re starting to make moves now which are hopefully going to help us in the future.
And of course we know we’ve got work to do to survive, but it’s really important and nothing’s a given.
So we have to really, really work hard, roll our sleeves up and earn the right. And I think we did that really well today.
What did you make of today overall, and all your debutantes scoring?
Pleased, really pleased.
I think they’re not easy those games because obviously London Bees packed bodies behind the ball and make it difficult.
I think, when you score early – and Denise (above) showed that bit of quality for us to get the goal – it just settled the nerves for us and allowed us to play a little bit more freely, and we did that well.
And that was possibly the most Martha Thomas goal of all Martha Thomas goals, that flicked header was just so typically her.
Yeah, she’s got great aerial ability and attacks crosses really well.
And this was more of a flicked ball in behind, between her and the keeper and she did well.
I think Martha (below) is a very good player and I think she’s going to do well for us.
How about those two worldie goals from your sub, one from out here [waves towards middle of pitch] and one from over there [points to touchline]?
Oh yeah, Alice Bergstrom (below, right), great strikes.
You know, she’s a powerful player.
She had a real impetus when she came onto the pitch, was really direct, got into good situations and was rewarded with her goals.
The last one I want to ask you about is your number 87, Maizie Trueman, making her debut at 16. I thought she showed so much calmness and control for a youngster.
Yeah, that’s really important, those qualities you say, to play in the way we want to play.
I think she gets it, Maizie (below, left). She’s an intelligent player.
She’s very young, of course. 16 years old is so, so young.
But she’s trained with us a lot this season, and she deserved the opportunity today.
I think she was unlucky to have her goal ruled out, because I think it was onside, but would have capped it off nicely.
