Arsenal, Chelsea and City have been the league’s dominant teams in recent years, with any clashes between the trio billed as potential title deciders, but Cushing feels it is equally as important to ensure you don’t drop points elsewhere.
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That’s why, despite feeling his side didn’t make our dominance pay, he was pleased to see his players dig deep to claim a hard-fought win against the Reds.
“I think the head to heads will play a part, but it’s [also] not dropping points on days like today,” he said.
“At some point in these games, one of the top three as people perceive them, will drop points. We saw Chelsea draw against Brighton earlier in the season.
“We speak a lot about being the team that’s consistent so if anyone does drop points, we get points on that day.
“We didn’t push Arsenal the way we could have pushed them last year because these games were draws.
“Although we’ve controlled parts of the game and created a lot we haven’t got the second goal which allows the opposition to still be in the game, but we’ve been resilient and fought hard to make sure it was three points and not one.”
Though Liverpool came into the game without a league win to their name, Cushing was not surprised they made life so tough for the hosts.
The 35-year-old felt fatigue prevented his players from killing the game off but acknowledged there were still a number of impressive performances from Gemma Bonner, Lauren Hemp and Ellie Roebuck.
Caroline Weir, in her deep-lying midfielder role also stood out, claiming an assist and often being the instigator of much of City’s best play.
It’s a role Cushing thinks she is thriving in, as he suggested the Scotland international has been one the team’s most dangerous attacking threats.
“I though Caroline Weir was our best player. She dominated and controlled the game.
“She’s playing that little bit deeper because it means we can be offensive from our forward line, but also from a deeper position.
“We know Steph Houghton can switch the play with her diagonal passes and we’ve now got Caroline and Keira Walsh who can play a bit longer.
“If you look at one of the goals against West Ham and Lauren Hemp’s against Everton, Caroline is now delivering deeper passes.
“It gives us a bit of variety. She’s enjoying playing there, but she’s also being a pivotal player for us going forward.”
