Liverpool Women are targeting a significant improvement on their 11th-place finish in the Women's Super League (WSL) last season, with new signings Vivien Endemann and Mao Itamura expected to play key roles. The club's prospects have been boosted by a strong summer transfer window and encouraging pre-season results, according to the Guardian's WSL season preview.
Summer Rebuild and New Signings
Gareth Taylor, who took charge late last summer, has now had a full pre-season with his squad, a factor expected to aid their performance. The managing director, Andy O'Boyle, has also had three transfer windows to evolve the team. The arrival of Germany forward Vivien Endemann from Wolfsburg is highlighted as a promising signing, while goalkeeper Khiara Keating has been reunited with Taylor, though she lacks the experience of Sweden's Jennifer Falk. Falk was impressive during a loan spell with Liverpool in the second half of last season but opted not to make the move permanent due to family reasons.
Despite notable departures, including centre-back Gemma Bonner, Liverpool appear to have a squad capable of staying up, though they remain a long way off challenging for European spots, with their budget dwarfed by bigger-spending rivals. The team will aim to make an immediate impact this season, having recorded their first league win only in late January last year. They begin the campaign away to promoted Charlton.
Off-Field Stability and Manager's Record
Liverpool's women's team have not benefited from the same level of cash injections from owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City's women's sides. However, they have recorded an overall profit of more than £500,000 over the past eight seasons and consistently break even, while boasting top-class facilities at their Melwood training base.
Taylor, 53, has yet to win over the fanbase but has a strong CV, having won the Women's FA Cup and the League Cup with Manchester City in 2020 and 2022 respectively, and nearly a league title. A former Wales international striker, Taylor played for clubs including Bristol Rovers, Nottingham Forest, Wrexham, Sheffield United, and Manchester City.
Key Signing and Stat Attack
Liverpool were delighted that Endemann decided to make the switch from Wolfsburg. The 25-year-old had a good record in the Bundesliga and has 17 caps for Germany, helping them finish third at the 2024 Olympics. She won a German Cup with Wolfsburg in 2024 and has Women's Champions League experience.
Liverpool improved significantly after a very slow start to the last campaign, earning 11 points more in the second half of the season than in the first, the widest margin of improvement in the WSL. Doubling their tally from the second batch of 11 games would have given them 28 points, enough for sixth place.
Breakthrough Player and Player Quotes
The 20-year-old Japan youth international Mao Itamura has been signed from Feyenoord. She was named the Eredivisie player of the year last season and is a versatile forward with great dribbling skills, expected to add a fresh dimension to Liverpool's attack.
“We want to be in the first half of the table because we have really good players and I think we can show what we are capable of. I believe in every single person in this team. We have good chances to have a great season. And we all have this good feeling; I can feel it in the training,” said Liverpool and Switzerland forward Aurélie Csillag.
Liverpool play the vast majority of their home matches at St Helens Stadium, which they share with the rugby league side, with a capacity of about 18,000. They have announced they will play three times at Anfield this season, with the first being a derby against Everton in September.
