Ten years ago, Liverpool FC were reigning champions of the Women’s Super League, having won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014 under manager Matt Beard. It’s been a rocky journey since then, with player departures and changes in management seeing the Reds relegated to the Championship in 2020. After one season unsuccessful in gaining promotion, Beard returned to Merseyside with a plan – to get Liverpool back into the top flight. And not only did he do that in his first year back, but just two seasons after promotion, he’s got the Reds back and fighting the top teams in the table. He’s changed the narrative of Liverpool Women, from a team that everybody had written off, to fierce competitors once again. And how he did it is quite extraordinary.
Last season, Liverpool were relatively comfortable back in the top flight, despite many players having no experience in the WSL. They finished a comfortable seventh, avoiding any real relegation battle all season. With many predicting the promoted team to be the first to go back down, it’s fair to say they surpassed expectations and proved that they deserved to be back in the Super League. But it only got better from there.
Liverpool’s positive first season back attracted attention from many players last summer. Matt Beard made a statement in the transfer window with seven huge signings, after seeing eight players depart the club at the end of last season. The aim was to lower the average age of the squad and bring in fresh, exciting talent to build a foundation for the years ahead – and he’s certainly done that. Signing Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah has provided healthy competition for Rachael Laws, especially given the ACL injury of rising keeper Faye Kirby which happened early this season.
The Red’s defence almost looks unrecognisable to that of previous years, with Grace Fisk and Jenna Clark slotting into the backline alongside Gemma Bonner. The centre-back trio, combined with wingbacks Emma Koivisto and Taylor Hinds, has given Liverpool a clearer identity and style of play that previously seemed to be lacking. Grace Fisk especially has been immense, being named Liverpool’s players’ player of the season, and definitely seems to have gone under the radar in terms of recognition more generally. It’s left many people questioning why she was not awarded a place in Wiegman’s squad for the Euro qualifiers this summer, having outperformed many other defenders on the list.
One of Liverpool’s most impressive players this season has been summer signing Marie Hobinger. The number fourteen has brought healthy competition to an already solid midfield, joining Ceri Holland, Fuka Nagano and Missy Bo Kearns. With forty six chances created this season, she’s been a fundamental part of the Red’s success. The Austrian international has contributed five goals and four assists during her time at Liverpool so far – three of those coming from corners all in the victory against Chelsea – crowing her the first WSL player to assist a hattrick of corners in a single game.
It was always going to be a challenge to replacing Katie Stengel last summer, with the striker departing Liverpool in July to join Gotham in the NWSL. Having been the main source of goals, the Reds needed some additions to the front line, especially given injuries to players such as Leanne Kiernan and Shanice Van De Sanden. Norwegian striker Sophie Roman Haug proved just the replacement this season, scoring seven goals for the Reds and three assists in twenty games. She’s a very different type of forward to Stengel – her biggest strength being her aerial ability, winning 105 aerial duels this season, the most in the WSL by a mile.
With twelve different goalscorers in the WSL this season and more chances created, Liverpool perhaps haven’t needed a single player like Stengel to rely on as much as they did last season. Matt Beard also signed youth forward Mia Enderby from Sheffield United at strengthen the front line – who looks to have amazing potential, particularly shining in the second half of the season.
Last Summer, Liverpool also announced that the club had re-purchased Melwood, the men’s old training facility, to become a state-of-the-art training base for the women’s side. This in itself showed huge change – that the women’s team were once again being put at the forefront of the club’s priorities. This has been monumental in this season’s success – not only attracting and retaining some top talent but also giving players the best opportunity to recover and maintain a healthy squad. However, it was also equally as important for team morale and identity – giving the Reds a place of their own with such an iconic history – and these women being the future.
The same can be said this season, with Liverpool announcing that they will be moving their home pitch from Prenton Park to St Helens Rugby Stadium. With a Premier-League quality pitch, top-class player facilities including their personal dressing room and increased capacity, it’s more margins to separate Liverpool from other teams. The Reds have also announced plans to play multiple games at Anfield in the upcoming season, after only playing the Merseyside derby here this season. The Reds have always struggled to perform at Anfield, perhaps due to the huge pressure and unfamiliarity. Playing more games here will only help to improve this, and with the increasing fan support, it’s what they deserve.
In the discourse surrounding Liverpool’s achievements, many people have compared the Reds to Aston Villa the season prior – pushing top four teams all the way, however not being able to maintain that intensity this season. However, what Liverpool have created seems much more sustainable with a younger squad, top-class facilities and increased backing from club.
Liverpool started the season as they meant to go on – defying expectations with a 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates in front of over 54,000 Arsenal fans. They then convincingly beat Aston Villa 2-0 – a team that has been pushing the top four all the way, the previous season. By Christmas, they sat in fifth place after a well-fought win after rivals Manchester United – ahead of their initial target of making the top half of the table.
Like for any team , it’s not all been plain-sailing for Matt Beard’s side. Another Anfield defeat in the Merseyside derby felt like a frustrating opportunity not taken, and heavy defeats by Chelsea and Manchester City also followed. But it’s how the Reds have reacted even over the course of the season and bounced back that’s defined them, and cemented their deserved fourth place finish.
Liverpool’s best performance this season has to be their victory over reigning champions Chelsea in May. After a 5-1 defeat in November, it was certainly symbolic of their growth and resilience over the course of the season, giving Chelsea yet another defeat at Prenton Park. After conceding so early, the game could have also gone as a heavy defeat, however the mentality of the Reds in refusing to back down and give up in the game, turned it around. It was centre-back Gemma Bonner who clinched two goals including the decider – rather full-circle, as she captained Liverpool to back-to-back titles, and has returned to the club to see them rise again.
Liverpool also managed to do the double over Manchester United, again such an improvement from last season’s heavy 6-0 defeat. The Reds have beaten three out of the top four teams this season, proving that they too should be considered one of these top teams. In fact, after spending much of the season in fifth place below on points or goal difference to Man United, they actually finished a solid six points ahead of their rivals, with four wins in their last four games, having scored ten goals and conceding only three. As Matt Beard rightly stated, this wasn’t due to other teams underperforming but they got here on their own merit and hard work.
This is something that’s been talked a lot about with Liverpool’s achievements this season. With many of their victories, it’s rather been about how other teams have underperformed instead of giving Matt Beard and the Reds the credit which they deserve. They’ve certainly been the underdogs of the season, going under the radar, quietly collecting points and moving up the table. From third place in the Championship two seasons ago, to fourth place in the Super League – that’s almost unheard of, and Matt Beard is deserving of all the accolades he receives, including being named manager of the season.
The Reds topped off a fantastic season with a 4-0 victory against Leicester City – a team that’s previously proved a challenge for the Reds. Sophie Roman-Haug got the first goal, unsurprisingly another header, before substitute Leanne Kiernan bagged a half-an-hour hattrick. It was the perfect end to a brilliant campaign, and especially heart-warming to see the Irish international on the scoresheet. The fan favourite has had a rocky journey in the Super League over the past two seasons, having suffered a nasty ankle injury in September 2022, and multiple setbacks in recovery since then. Seeing Liverpool’s number nine back so full of confidence certainly makes next season look optimistic for the Reds. Rachael Laws also had an outstanding game in keeping a clean sheet, especially given she played with a broken finger, as Teagan Micah also picked up an injury. This rather epitomised Liverpool’s season – every player contributing all they can.
Liverpool announced the departure of four players this summer. Miri Taylor, who joined Aston Villa on loan in January, officially left the club, as well as Shanice Van De Sanden, who’s struggled with injury at her second spell as a Red. Melissa Lawley departs after being a fantastic servant for five years at Liverpool, with limited game time as Liverpool’s formation prefers to play two strikers over traditional wingers. The biggest surprise to many was the departure of wing-back Emma Koivisto, who leaves after two seasons, having been a vital part of both Liverpool’s success in defence and attack. This suggests a greater role for full-back Lucy Parry next season, who’s got tremendous potential and we’ve already seen glimpses of this, such as in the Merseyside Derby.
Matt Beard has hinted that there will be less incomings this summer, after such a busy window this time last year. He’s already built the foundations of a core group of both fresh and experienced talent, so no major changes are necessary. However, there will be some transfers, which we could expect in the front and back lines. One thing that Beard has reiterated in every signing he has made, had been the importance of having good people at the club, not just good players. This ethos of creating a family environment has undoubtably contributed to Liverpool’s recent success. Having a group of players that feel comfortable and connected off the pitch will certainly translate onto the pitch too. In fact, this seemed to be the thing missing above all else, during Liverpool’s tougher times which resulted in relegation.
Overall, Liverpool have surpassed all expectation this season, with performances full of grit and belief. It’s been the product of intelligent signings, a cohesive group of players and pure hard work – not due to other teams underperforming. With Matt Beard a pioneer in leading Liverpool to silverware, who knows what’s in store for the Reds next season…
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