3 things we learned from Liverpool Women's defeat to Manchester City

Liverpool Women unfortunately couldn’t build off the back of last week’s late win over Tottenham Hotspur, as they were defeated 2-1 on Sunday.

This defeat to Manchester City leaves the Reds in fifth place in the Women’s Super League table. Here is what we learned.

Strength at the back

Having to defend throughout a lot of the second half, Liverpool applied themselves astutely for the most part, before eventually succumbing to Bunny Shaw’s stoppage time goal.

Shaw, 27, imposed her physicality on Liverpool defender Niamh Fahey to hold her off and finish high into the net.

The Jamaican also used her height to head home the City equalizer.

This physicality is something that I think the Liverpool defence lacks.

Fahey was the second half substitute for Gemma Bonner, but at 33, the Reds should be comfortable without her playing every minute.

I do understand that the defence was tired having so oft sat behind the ball in the game, but Manchester City played against Barcelona in midweek, so that should be no excuse.

Tactical Decisions

Liverpool’s gameplan was clearly to absorb the Manchester City pressure.

While that has its merits, there is school of thinking that involves the inevitability of pressure eventually causing the defence to cave, particularly with City’s quality.

Ultimately I think it is un-Liverpool like to set-up a team in this manner, especially at home.

I think it is an admission of inferiority and understandably so, but Liverpool shouldn’t be inferior to Manchester City.

In my opinion, there is not enough spent on the women’s team, and for Liverpool to ever become an equal to Manchester City again, the team needs further investment.

The Liverpool bench had only seven players, without a substitute goalkeeper, compared to City’s 9.

Credit to first-choice keeper Rachael Laws for playing with an injury, but she shouldn’t be under that much pressure to do so.

Liverpool’s Anfield Woes

Liverpool Women scored their first goal at Anfield on Sunday, with Olivia Smith’s low long-range strike finding the net.

That statistic tells you a lot about Liverpool Women’s fortunes at Anfield, even the mighty Liverpool team of last season lost 1-0 to Everton at Anfield.

While it has almost exclusively been Merseyside Derbies that the women have played at Anfield, this season saw its expansion to include home games against Manchester City and Manchester United.

Something about Liverpool Women at Anfield is yet to feel like home, and after all these years it is fast-becoming an issue.

Maybe it’s the bigger pitch, but whatever the issues is, needs figuring out fast.