The Women’s Super League kicks off this weekend, and for Liverpool it’s an opening day derby as the Reds welcome Everton to Anfield for the 2025-26 season opener looking to make a positive first impression under new manager Gareth Taylor.
Last season saw the women’s team take a step back, falling into mid-table a year after a year of flirting with the top three. That led to the departure of long-time manager Matt Beard and then in the summer Liverpool’s best player, Olivia Smith, left to join frontrunners Arsenal.
All things considered, then, it’s hard to peg just what the reasonable goals and expectations are for the coming season. Losing Smith brought more criticism to a club that has a history of ignoring its women’s side, and pre-season has underwhelmed.
Still, one never can know how things will look until the season actually starts, and it would be unfair to fully judge the team or their new manager based on pre-season. Everton, though, at Anfield in the season opener, could tell us a lot about where Liverpool Women are heading.
“I think to start at Anfield is top-class,” Taylor said of the chance to open the season at Anfield rather than usual home St. Helens. “What a season-opener that is, to start on TV against your rivals. It’s a really good opportunity for us to make a good start.
“Regardless of what happens I think what we want to do is put on a good performance. Obviously by doing that it gives us a much-improved opportunity to win the game. We know what derbies are like, they’re tense. It’s a bit more about passion and endeavour and hard work.
“This group of players, they’re incredibly hard-working and very passionate about playing for this football club. I think that’s huge. We’re all supremely proud to be here representing the club and on derby day we really want to do it for our supporters.”
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