Gareth Taylor has said that the decision to bring Rafaela Borggräfe back into the fold after an alleged discriminatory remark, was in part because Liverpool ‘have a duty of care to players.’
Gareth Taylor was speaking after his side’s fourth defeat in the WSL on the bounce, a 1-0 loss to newly promoted London City Lionesses. At Hayes Lane, the Liverpool head coach spoke to The Halfway Line about Borggräfe, Leanne Kiernan’s fitness and what went wrong for his side in Bromley.
‘Until we hear anything from the FA, Rafa [Borggräfe] is back in with us’ says Taylor
When Liverpool were in their pre-season camp in Ireland several members of staff and players reported an alleged remark of racial discrimination. The remark allegedly came from Liverpool goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe. With the incident reported to the Football Association, the FA opened an investigation and Borggräfe was excluded from the squad for Liverpool’s opening day match against Everton.
Permitted to train before the Leicester City match, following Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Leicester, the German has started both Liverpool’s WSL matches since. The FA investigation is ongoing and assurances that the matter has been looked into internally at Liverpool FC were offered last month. Taylor spoke on the decision making behind returning Borggräfe to the fold,
“Well, I think we have to give players the opportunity to do their job” said Taylor.
“While that investigation is ongoing, which we’re really supporting, we have a duty of care to players.
“What they want to do, is do their job. And until we hear anything from the FA, Rafa (Borggräfe) is back in with us, and we continue as we are.”
Rafaela Borggräfe denies the allegations.
Gareth Taylor laments ‘disappointing’ end to the match
As for matters on the pitch, Gareth Taylor’s side struggled again to assert their dominance, this time against newly promoted opponents.
“I thought we controlled large parts of the first half” Taylor said. “The second half, we found that we gave up a lot of possession, a little bit cheaply.
“So that allowed London City to kind of work their way into the game. They probably had like, well, they definitely had better chances than us in the second half.
“But I think at the point when the penalty came, it was a moment where it’s really on the edge for us, in a sense of trying to defend it better.
“So that you get to that point, you get to the latter stages of the game, 85th minute, 86th minute, whatever it was, then we get a chance to take something from the game, which is disappointing. Yeah, that’s what happened.”
Taylor: Liverpool ‘trying to work out’ what their best team is
Taylor made two substitutes despite his side’s struggles with one coming after the 90th minute. Liverpool struggled for any foothold in the second half with Taylor reticent to turn to the bench for inspiration.
“It is hard at the moment, because we’re in a position where we’re trying to put out the best team” Taylor explained.
“We’re trying to work and find out what our kind of best team looks like, where we can hurt the opposition, that type of stuff.
“And of course, when you bring players from the side lines you want them to improve what you already have.
“So yeah, I think at the end, Mia [Enderby] was struggling a little bit with the physicality of the game, so we tried to get legs onto the pitch and then a bit of aerial height in [Sophie] Roman [Haug].”
Finally Taylor explained that Leanne Kiernan was unable to make the squad for Sunday’s match due to injury.
“Hopefully, it shouldn’t be too much [time out].” Taylor said.
“It’s a really severe kick she’s had on the foot. Her foot was swollen, so she was really struggling to kick. But we’d like to think she’ll be back and available next weekend.”
