Olivia Smith is the embodiment of Amber Whiteley’s Liverpool: Liberated, confident, revived
That is exactly what the 20-year-old Liverpool winger said through a wry smile after Liverpool’s 3-1 Women’s Super League (WSL) win against Manchester United. As a statement it was hardly radical or profound and, in reality, there was no need for the Canadian to say anything at all. Her performances over the last two games have spoken louder than words.
For much of Arsenal’s 1-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Liverpool last Sunday, Katie McCabe was chasing after a ghost-footed puma. Five days’ later and, 41 minutes into the first half, United midfielder Grace Clinton found herself enduring the same fate as she contemplated how Smith simply liking the right wing translated to Liverpool going from not having a single touch in United’s 18-yard box for almost an entire half to 1-0 up in a matter of seconds.
The answer, of course, was Smith.
She scored twice at Anfield, her first a sensational solo goal to give Liverpool that unlikely lead. Her 67th-minute penalty made it 3-0 after Fuka Nagano had doubled the home team’s advantage in what time remained before half-time.
Friday’s victory was Liverpool’s first in the WSL at Anfield, the team having lost their previous four matches there by an aggregate score of 7-1. It was also Amber Whiteley’s third successive victory as interim manager — and the first time a new Liverpool head coach had won their first two WSL games.
Yet, on paper, Whiteley’s sixth-placed Liverpool had little business defeating second-placed United. Team news triggered groans in the stands. Illness unexpectedly removed midfielder Ceri Holland, centre-back Gemma Bonner, right-back Grace Fisk — all of whom were meant to start the fixture — and forward Leanne Kiernan from the squad. Left-back Alejandra Bernabe, who joined on loan from Chelsea in January, was handed her league debut.
United, in contrast, were bolstered by the returns of right-back Jayde Riviere and top-scorer Elisabeth Terland.
And for the first half hour, this appeared to be following a conventional script. Clinton and Terland stalked Liverpool’s makeshift back four, a bold tactical preference of Whiteley’s exposed as a poor hill to die on. But as Smith rampaged from the right into the box for Liverpool’s first goal, then started the move that ended in Nagano adding the second on the stroke of half-time, suddenly the tactic felt plainly obvious.
Whiteley’s deviation and dedication to a back four is important. That is not just because it is more tactically conducive to Liverpool’s attacking quality compared to predecessor Matt Beard’s preferred wing-back system, with Smith able to better create one-on-one opportunities on the wing.
But because of what it represents: freedom, faith, conviction in self.
“We’ve had a massive boost in confidence (since Whiteley came in),” Smith told reporters on Friday. “That goes with (Whiteley) just giving us more clarity on our roles, switching the formation, allowing us to be ourselves and bringing out our individual qualities.”
“Be yourself” was Whiteley’s message to the dressing room in the days after Beard’s exit; simple enough, but riddled with potential perplexity. Because ? Plucky over-performers as a low-budget squad who were finally exposed for punching above their weight last season? Or a bright, talented group failing to live up to their potential this season?
“We know the quality we have,” Bonner told before Friday’s match. “But it’s about trying to find it consistently and trusting ourselves that we can do that.”
In just three weeks, Whiteley has found a way to coax out that consistency, most notably in attack. The three goals scored against United were the most Liverpool have scored in a league match since October. That they arrived without four key players and against the league’s most formidable defence — before Friday night, United had conceded just six goals in their WSL campaign — is also noteworthy.
Before Friday night, Liverpool had scored just 14 league goals from an xG (expected goals) of 16.7, with their differential the worst in the WSL according to Opta. The poor quality of the opportunities created played a role, with Liverpool only mustering 21 ‘big chances’, the ninth-best in the league, with a conversion rate of 28.6%, the second worst in the division.
Beard’s exit was partly rooted in the fact the Liverpool board perceived his passive tactics were stifling the attack, particularly Smith, who joined in the summer from Sporting CP for a club-record fee of €250,000 (£212,000; $272,000)).
Under Beard, Smith offered murmurings of her quality. But her past three performances under Whiteley, in which she has been utilised in her preferred right-wing berth, have been louder — the roar of something unleashed. While much can be put down to Smith’s individual brilliance, providing her with the appropriate structure to wreak havoc has been key.
Whiteley has focused specifically on urging Liverpool’s back line to step forward, rather than slink backwards and soak up pressure from opponents, as was often the case under Beard. This was clear at the half-hour mark against United. As Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws received treatment, Whiteley instructed her back line to be more aggressive and close the space in midfield that United were stepping into.
They duly capitalised on United’s mistakes in that area — errors that led to goals.
The in-game adjustment is quintessential Whiteley, the former academy coach hailed for her meticulous preparation, tactical nous and unflappability under pressure.
“She’s an amazing coach who knows what she’s talking about,” said Smith. “In meetings, we analyse video in depth. She works with us one-on-one. We’re on the right track. We just have to keep our momentum and stay sharp.”
Watching Whiteley mid-match is beguiling, if nothing more than to provide a contrast with her predecessor. Club tracksuit-clad and one Air Pod in, she patrols the touchline like a CEO dialling in from her penthouse office, commanding without raising her voice.
Yet, for all the chatter of reinvigoration and redesign, there is virtue in familiarity. For large parts against United, Liverpool were at their gnarled defensive best, too; the gritty vestiges on display of a team who executed a league double over United last season and finished fourth in the WSL. Only now, the edges are sharper, the angles lining up more convincingly.
Whiteley remains in charge until the season’s end, at which point Liverpool will make a permanent decision. It is too soon, after three matches, to draw too many conclusions. But Whiteley’s audition makes for compelling discussion.
“There’s no secret other than hard work and good preparation,” Whiteley said on Friday. “We give them everything they need to be able to win the game so that, if illness happens, we’re able to make the changes (and) the transition is as smooth as what you’ve seen tonight. But then it’s over to the players.
“They’re the ones that cross the white line, they’ve got to execute. Against Palace, against Arsenal last week, and again tonight, they’ve given absolutely everything. I’m made up with it.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Liverpool, Soccer, UK Women's Football, Liverpool, Manchester United
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