Talking Tactics: Gunners clash offers reeling Reds shot at redemption

Liverpool were brutally brought down to earth by Manchester City last weekend.

The Reds fell to a 5-1 defeat at the Joie Stadium with Khadija Shaw netting a hat-trick for the title-chasing hosts.

That result left the Merseysiders sitting fifth in the Women's Super League, level on points with Manchester United and Tottenham but trailing Chelsea, City and Arsenal.

Ahead of another difficult fixture against the Gunners, we consider how manager Matt Beard can inspire a response from his team.

Eradicating errors

Liverpool fans will be encouraged by the bigger picture despite the disappointing nature of last Sunday's loss to City.

Beard's side have made significant progress this season having ended the 2022-23 campaign in seventh place with just 23 points.

They have accumulated 18 points already this term and have shown signs of being able to compete in the division's upper echelons too.

But standards are high among the WSL's best teams and Liverpool made far too many mistakes in their defeat at City.

After that game, Beard said: "We were the architects of our own downfall today. It's just frustrating because we've set ourselves a high standard this year.

"We'll obviously go through clips with the players. We need to make sure we bounce back from it and make sure we don't make the same mistakes again.

"We're frustrated with the result today but the gap is big. We have bridged that gap over the course of this season.

"We need to learn from today and make sure we don't allow that to happen again."

Solid structure

To a certain extent, Beard is limited by the quality of his players.

But he will be aware that his team strayed from their usual discipline and defensive rigidity against City.

Prior to that defeat, Liverpool had only conceded 11 goals in 10 games and kept three clean sheets.

The Reds are far less productive in attack than the teams above them, however, with just 16 goals scored so far.

In the long term, creating a side with more attacking intent will be a priority for Beard.

But with Arsenal up next, he will need his team stick to what they have done best this season — keeping things tight and relying on moments of quality from the likes of Sophie Haug and Marie Hobinger.

Gunners challenge

While losing so heavily to City was undoubtedly a blow, Liverpool fans do not need to look too far back for some encouragement.

Their 2-1 win at Manchester United just before Christmas was evidence of the team's ability to get results in big matches.

Beard's side executed their game plan to perfection that afternoon — only having 40% possession but taking their chances on the counter-attack, while frustrating free-scoring United.

That will be the blueprint for Beard's outfit as they host an Arsenal team with aspirations of winning the league.

Liverpool will also look back to their 1-0 win over the Gunners at the Emirates in October — a game in which they had 41% of the ball but came away with the points thanks to Miri Taylor's second-half goal.

A similarly resolute performance will be needed from the Reds today as they look to replicate that result at Prenton Park.