Season Narrative
The Liverpool FC Women wrapped up their season a couple of weeks ago, finishing 1th of the 12 WSL teams. It was a disappointing overall finish in the table, though the Reds were comfortably 8 points clear of Leicester City at the bottom.
Tumultuous Offseason
The LFC Women endured a tumultuous offseason last summer that seemed to set the tone for early struggles. The Reds went into the summer without an official head coach after Matt Beard was let go the prior March and with many key players unsure
if they would resign as the club future and direction was unclear. While key players like Ceri Holland and Fuka Nagano ultimately decided to re-sign ahead of new leadership being in place, the club sold starlet Olivia Smith for a then world record $1 million.
Gareth Taylor was identified as the top candidate for the head coaching position, but complications with negotiating his gardening leave meant Taylor was not appointed until after preseason officially started. This meant the players had limited time to begin the change to the possession-heavy patterns of play preferred by the Welshman. It also meant that much of the summer recruitment was delayed as well, leaving a scramble at the end of the transfer window to fill out the squad to at least minimal levels of depth.
A Difficult Start – Transitions, Loss, and Injuries
With a new head coach, a raft of new players, and limited time to train together, it was unsurprising that Liverpool endured a difficult start to the season. Unfortunately all of those factors were compounded by significant losses and other turmoil of the pitch that no doubt greatly impacted many of the players.
The death of Diogo Jota in the summer was felt by the entire Liverpool community. Jota was a vocal supporter of the LFC Women’s squad and was known by many in the club, so his loss was certainly keenly felt. Just over two months later, former manager Matt Beard also took his own life. Beard had been beloved by the players during his four year tenure, and was a person who had built relationships across the women’s football landscape. His loss was no doubt something the players struggled to deal with as the season rolled on.
Along with the losses of Jota and Beard, the squad also had to deal with internal investigations carried out by both the club and the FA as new signing and presumptive starting goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe was said to have been overheard making racist comments. The comments were overheard by club players and staff members during a preseason training camp trip and were reported upwards. The investigation was very start and stop, with Borggräfe being allowed to play some matches early in the season before officially being sideline by the FA investigation. While no details of what was said, Borggräfe was ultimately given a 6 match ban that was applied retroactively to the matches she sat out while the investigation was ongoing.
With the lack of preparation time and the losses and distractions off the pitch, Liverpool got off to an extremely slow start on the pitch. The Reds lost their opening six matches of the season, scoring a paltry three goals during that stretch. Even when Liverpool played decently, their lack of cutting edge in the attack and some late mental lapses cost them. Two of the opening losses came from goals conceded in the 86th minute or later, a theme that would continue through the first half of the year. All told, Liverpool dropped from a draw to a loss in three matches and a win to a draw in one match during the opening half of the season.
To top everything off, Liverpool lost two of their key figures to ACL injuries in the span of a week. Marie Höbinger and Sophie Roman Haug both sustained the season-ending injuries in October, leaving Gareth Taylor without his key creative figure and his point striker. They joined Zara Shaw in recovery after Shaw suffered her second ACL injury of her young career the prior April.
Along with the season-ending injuries to two key players, almost everyone else in the senior squad missed at least a couple of matches due to knocks of varying severity. Sam Kerr did not feature after mid-November due to a back issue. Gareth Taylor struggled to put out a consistent squad from match to match as he was trying to get his side to gel, and often had a bench that was either shorthanded and/or contained several Academy players just to round out some numbers.
With all of the turmoil, loss, and injuries, Liverpool ended up with a total of 3 points from the opening 11 matches of league play to close out 2025. Taylor highlighted the need for a large winter transfer window to bolster the squad with both quality and numbers as they sat at the bottom of the table.
Second Half Surge
Taylor’s please were heard and Liverpool had a very busy January. In the end, 6 new players were added to the squad. Denise O’Sullivan and Jennifer Falk headlined the incoming group of players. O’Sullivan was signed for a club-record fee and immediately upgraded the midfield play. Falk came in on loan and provided both quality and consistency in net. Several of the other new signings also provided early impacts, both from starting roles and off the bench.
Liverpool started 2026 on the front foot, earning a draw and their first two wins of the season from the first five WSL matches of the calendar year. The level of play continued to increase as the squad got more familiar with each other and the tactics. The Reds surged forward, picking up 14 points from 8 games in January through March. Those points would prove to be enough to keep Liverpool out of the relegation zone as the season wound down. Three losses to finish the year put a damper on things, but there were at least some positives to take away from the year that had such a dismal start.
Liverpool still struggled with injuries in the second half of the season. New signing Anna Josendal came in with a knock and wasn’t able to play until the end of the season. Sofie Lundgaard was lost for the year from a tackle in training in February. Gemma Bonner also missed most of the second half of the season with injuries, while Lucy Parry
Player of the Season
Ceri Holland
The Welsh wonder was one of the few consistent bright spots for Liverpool over the course of the season. Gareth Taylor deployed Holland as an attacking winger rather than in the midfield for most of the year, and Holland responded with being the key attacking force for Liverpool. Almost all of the attacks ran through Holland as she progressed the ball with her tireless runs and delivered the ball with a variety of crosses and cutbacks. Holland finished the season with 3 goals and 2 assists and also led the team with big chances created and dribbles completed. She also led the team with 28 tackles won as she frequently led the press.
Honorable Mentions
Beata Olsson
The Swede was one of the few bright spots in the opening half of the season. Olsson proved to be an efficient finisher, notching a team high six goals. She scored for of those goals in consecutive matches, leading Liverpool to their first two draws of the season in November.
Jenna Clark
The lanky defender became a regular under Gareth Taylor and quietly settled in to become one of the most consistent players in the squad. Clark greatly limited the mental errors that had plagued her early in her Liverpool career and used her speed to great effect to run players down and shut down attacks into the channels. She also showed off her passing skill, leading the team with passes completed per match and long passes completed per match. The Scot was comfortable carrying the ball forward at times when passes were not open.
Jennifer Falk
The Swede was only with the club for half a season, but her impact was immediate. Falk finished the season with a save percentage of 71%, significantly higher than Faye Kirby’s 58% save percentage. Falk was also much more assured with the ball at her feet, an important attribute for Gareth Taylor’s style of play that includes the keeper in the passing game to relieve pressure and distribution out of the back.
Goal(s) of the Season
Ceri Holland vs Everton
The goal was both a brilliant solo effort that all started with some slick interplay in the Liverpool half. The goal highlights Holland’s aggressive mindset and tireless running to go along with an exquisite curling finish.
Zara Shaw vs Charlton Athletic (FA Cup)
This goal has it all. There is the drama of needing a goal to advance in the FA Cup deep into extra time. There is Zara Shaw returning to make her first senior team appearance since sustaining her second ACL injury the prior April. The is the absolutely bonkers sequence off of the corner kick that sees Jenna Clark hit the woodwork twice before Shaw is able to somehow able to get her leg behind her torso and generate enough direction and power to sweep the ball into the net.
By The Numbers (WSL)
6 – Most goals scored (Beata Olsson)
2 – Most Assists (Ceri Holland, Mia Enderby, Beata Olsson, Lily Woodham, Gemma Bonner)
71% – Best Save Percentage (Jennifer Falk)
5 – Matches with dropped points conceding in the 85th minute or later
6 – Points dropped from conceding in the 85th minute or later
Looking Ahead
Liverpool is in a much stronger position heading into the offseason from where they were a year ago as they have a head coach and plan in place. There will certainly be work to be done this summer to strengthen the squad as the Reds are still a ways away from competing with the upper echelon of the WSL on a weekly basis. There is a foundation to build upon if the Liverpool leadership are willing to spend. Liverpool have broken their club record for individual signings over the past couple of years, but the overall investment in the playing squad is still significantly behind the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
Key Departures
Loanees Jennifer Falk, Risa Shimizu, and Martha Thomas have all returned to their parent clubs. Gareth Taylor has expressed the club’s desire to sign Falk on a permanent basis. Outside of the loanees, both Gemma Bonner and Gemma Evans have announced their departures. There will likely be usual attrition of additional players over the summer due to the shorter nature of the contracts in the Women’s game.
Squad Assessment
Goalkeeper
Liverpool have already said they want to sign Falk on a permanent deal, though it may be tricky due to her family still living in Sweden. Faye Kirby is still young and has room to grow, but she was not nearly the caliber of Falk, especially with communication and distribution. At 36, Rachael Laws is not the player she once was and dealt with injuries for much of the year. She is a player likely to leave this summer. I don’t see a way Liverpool keep Rafaela Borggräfe.
Outside Back
Risa Shimizu was solid, but has returned to Manchester City after her loan. Gareth Taylor has expressed his views that Alice Bergstrom’s future lies as an attacking right back, but depth and experience is needed behind Bergstrom. Lucy Parry has struggled mightily with injuries over the course of her career and has struggled with the pace of play when fit. Left back seems much more settled at this point. Both Alejandra Bernabé and Lily Woodham were solid in the role.
Central Defense
With the departures of Gemma Bonner and Gemma Evans, quality depth is needed behind Grace Fisk and Jenna Clark. Hannah Silcock may have an expanded role going forward, and the club have also already announced the signing of Sara Agrez. One more central defender is likely needed for depth.
Midfield
Liverpool have a talented group headlined by Denise O’Sullivan and Fuka Nagano, but this unit was hit hard by injuries this season and left razor thin. Marie Höbinger, Sofie Lundgaard, Sam Kerr, and Zara Shaw all missed most of the season. There is plenty to build upon here but depth is probably required, especially if there are any departures this summer. The future of Sam Kerr and Cornelia Kapocs will be interesting ones to watch this summer.
Attack
Ceri Holland and Beata Olsson were the standouts throughout the year, but this unit is still very much a work in progress. Mia Enderby being forced into an outsized role due to injuries and overall lack of depth. Some of the depth concerns were addressed in January with the additions of Aurélie Csillag, Anna Josendal, and loanee Martha Thomas. Josendal was injured when joining and did not feature until the end of the season so it is still to be seen if she has the quality needed and Thomas has returned to Spurs after her loan. Leanne Kiernan is likely to leave, and Sophie Roman Haug will be returning from an ACL injury, so there are certainly questions about depth. The club have already announced the signing of exciting German attacker Vivien Endemann.
