As disappointing as Liverpool’s season has been on the women’s side, with the Reds currently in last place in the Women’s Super League and in a battle with West Ham to avoid being the lone side relegated from the top flight this season, there has been some solace in the domestic cups.
Following a commendable quarter final run in the League Cup, they entered the FA Cup over the past weekend with a game against London’s Bees of the National League North—the third tier of the women’s game. Perhaps unsurprisingly
given the level of the opponent, it ended in a big 6-0 victory.
“Very pleased,” was manager Gareth Taylor’s reaction. “I think it was a decent performance from the girls. We were never really sure with how they would come in terms of set-up, but they went low block quite early in the game. That can make it difficult but scoring early on really helped us.
“We created some good opportunities and made some changes in the second half. We didn’t lose the level really. I’m pleased for the players who got an opportunity and pleased for the new players too. Martha Thomas scoring a goal I think is really important for her and she did really well.”
It was an impactful debut match for new signing Thomas, who in the end scored the second and third goals for the Reds, as well as for fellow new signing Denise O’Sullivan who scored the game’s opener. Now, the question will be whether that can carry back over into Super League action.
“We’ve still got a little bit of work to do,” Taylor added. “You know in the WSL when there’s 10 games left, before you know it you’re down to real low figures and still a bit of work to do. I think [the transfers] help and that’s what we were looking to do. I think that was needed last summer.”
If the new signings are to be the difference Liverpool Women need to salvage their season and survive in the top flight, they will have to prove that now they’re able to beat more than just lower league opponents in the cups, with Tottenham up next and then a trip to face Manchester United.
