A new season means new beginnings for Gareth Taylor and Liverpool Women. After a turbulent 2025/26 WSL season, both on and off the field, the Reds boss wants to draw a line under the past and to look forward to what, if pre-season is anything to go off, promises to be an exciting season on Merseyside.
Rock bottom at Christmas, without a win until January, last season’s campaign started slowly. Performances were bright – a 1-1 draw with champions Chelsea showed all the qualities of a team better than three points at the new year – but many factors translated to the season did not go as planned for the Reds.
How they bounced back was impressive. After, at last, securing a first victory against Spurs, Taylor’s team won four of their next six matches, earning themselves 17 points to finish eight points clear of Leicester in relegation. They even qualified for the Women’s FA Cup semi-final, and even led 2-0, before having their hearts broken by a late Brighton winner to complete a stunning comeback.
Now, with that all behind them, Liverpool and Taylor look to the future; to change the perception of Liverpool women’s football club.
Ahead of their first game of season on Sunday away at Charlton Women he addressed the media in a pre match press conference and stated:
“I think my biggest challenge this season with these players is convincing them that they’re good because we are.
“Does that mean we’re going to go out and win six, seven eight games on the bounce? Who knows? Potentially.
“But we don’t want to set ourselves a target. We see that being like we’re limiting ourselves a bit. We attack every game with and ambition and intention to win.”
The transfer window has been busy for Liverpool. After losing Jennifer Falk as she returned from her loan, the club have brought in English talent Khiara Keating from Manchester City – a player Taylor knows well from his time there. Elsewhere, they have also brought in other exciting talents such as Sara Agrez Mari Ward in defence, as well as Vivien Endemann, Natalia Ramos, and Mao Itamura.
However, despite the incomings, the squad are unfortunately depleted through to injuries.
“We have a couple of small issues,” said head coach Taylor at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, Anna Josendal, who has had a really good pre-season, has sustained a slight issue with her hamstring which is going to keep her out for a period of time.
“Fortunately, it doesn’t need surgery. But it’s a shame that one because Anna has had a tough ride since she’s come in with niggling injuries and can’t quite get right.
“We’ve seen there’s a really good player in there, so a shame, because she was looking so good in pre-season. But unfortunately, she will not be available.
“Mari Ward is going to be touch and go whether she’s available. That’s just a bit of a niggly one which wouldn’t keep her out too long. So, again, that will be touch and go.
“Lucy Parry is close but probably not going to be able to be ready for the squad this weekend.
“Sophie won’t be available. She is doing well, she is back in full training now but she just needs more training volume in her tank, that’s all.”
Mia Enderby has also missed several games during pre-season through injury, likely ruling her out of the opener.
New signing, Itamura would not have been involved at The Valley in any case, having been selected for the U20 Women’s World Cup by Japan.
But it was announced earlier this week that she has withdrawn from her country’s squad as a result of undergoing abdominal surgery.
“Yeah, a real shame,” said Taylor. “Of course, we were going to lose those players for probably the first four or five games of the season due to the World Cup.
“But obviously Mao [Itamura] has suffered with an abdominal issue and has had surgery. That’s going to keep her out for a period of time, which is a shame because it’s a shame for us but also a shame for her in the sense of an opportunity to be in a World Cup.
“It’s really disappointing for her and disappointing for Japan.
“Of course, we’ll support her in the right way, like we would do with any other player. And we look forward to her getting back, feeling good and feeling healthy.”
With five wins out of five from their pre-season matches, there really is no telling how far Liverpool can go this season. A 2-1 win over Manchester United, followed by a dominant 7-1 victory over Durham Women, sends them into the season with the wind in their sails.
Taylor will be hoping they can turn that into points a little earlier than last season and hopefully that can start on Sunday vs Charlton Women.
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