Tottenham's rally reveals the size of Taylor's task

Liverpool’s search for their first points of the season goes on, after Tottenham defeated Gareth Taylor’s side at Brisbane Road. It was an illustration of the parallels and contrasts between two teams who are, in a multitude of ways, on relatively similar trajectories in the Women’s Super League but who are equally experiencing contrasting fortunes in the opening stages of this season.

- Sophie Downey

With this win, Tottenham consolidated their fine start to life under Martin Ho to remain fourth, while Liverpool are rooted in the danger zone. The disparity between the two sides is underlined by the data - Spurs are the team who have outperformed their expected points by the biggest margin this season; Liverpool are the side who have underperformed the most.

The similarities of their journeys are clear, not just in the manner they have yo-yoed up and down the leagues in recent seasons but in the upheaval they have gone through. Both have undergone significant change in leadership over the summer and both were relatively slow to appoint a new manager.

Ho came into his post in July, a month before Taylor at Liverpool, and neither was given the financial resources or adequate time to recruit significantly. They inherited sides low on confidence after difficult campaigns and in dire need of new energy and direction.