Liverpool boss Vicky Jepson believes her side's draw with Chelsea at the end of 2019 shows they are capable of a strong second half of the season.

The Reds are still without a league win after ten games, but showed positive signs in their narrow defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City, before becoming only the second team to take points off Emma Hayes' Chelsea.

And Jepson, who took over as manager in October 2018, now feels her team are ready to kick on.

She said: "The first part of the season we didn't start off on the right foot. There were things we needed to learn about ourselves as a group and the level the WSL has got to now because I feel it's got stronger from last season.

"So we've had to raise our game across all units in our squad. I think certainly in the last four or five games we've taken steps forward.

"I think the way we finished the year off against Chelsea was incredible. I don't think we were lucky, I think we created our own luck with the hard work that we put in on the pitch.

"I was really pleased in the way that we finished and the way we've progressed to take a well-earned point against Chelsea. But we need three points now."

Jepson went on to say she now sees her side as a competitive team who can 'frighten' others because they will not be underestimated.

She also believes new signing Rachel Furness, who made the move from Reading, could prove pivotal in helping them make a late charge up the table.

"We're in a good place as a group and I think Rachel's going to add to that in taking us to the next level and hopefully help us to climb that table," she added.

"Rachel's going to bring a lot of leadership to the pitch. But the quality as well that she can bring to the pitch is what we're looking for - breaking up play, creating opportunities for us to score.

"She's a well-known player anyway in the WSL with the years that she's played at Sunderland and Reading, so for us the girls were delighted. I know our captain and vice-captain were delighted to have such a strong player come and join our squad and she's fitted in perfectly."