Andoni Iraola will be in attendance as Liverpool Women face Everton Women in Sunday's Women's Super League Merseyside derby at Anfield
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham at Anfield on September 12, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola will be present at Sunday's Women's Super League Merseyside derby between Liverpool Women and Everton Women at Anfield (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has been praised for his “really impressive gesture” ahead of the first Women’s Super League Merseyside derby of the season.
Liverpool Women welcome Everton Women to Anfield on Sunday (2pm kick-off) for a hugely anticipated encounter after the rivals both made encouraging starts to the new campaign.
And Reds men’s first-team boss Iraola is excited too. The 44-year-old will be in attendance at the Sky Sports-live clash, along with his family, an act which is appreciated by Liverpool Women’s head coach Gareth Taylor.
He said: “I think it's a really nice gesture from him, because I'm expecting him during the international break to be on his holidays.
"But for him to be coming to our game, bringing his family, bringing his children, I think it speaks volumes of that support. And you're right, I just think it is a really big positive step for us.
"I just think it brings an interest, it brings an alignment. I think it brings, like many things, that it's the same game. We're playing the same game, we all care really, really deeply about the game - whether it's male or female - and we care about each other.
"We work so hard in our own fields that sometimes you don't get the opportunity to go and take a coffee with Andoni and vice versa. So, this is a really impressive gesture for me and I think that's the way I look at it.
"It would be really nice to meet him and hopefully ask a few questions and steal a few ideas.
"Like I say, we're all working tremendously hard in our own specialist role and when you get support from other areas of the club, I think that's really important."
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Gareth Taylor, head coach of Liverpool, during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Manchester City and Liverpool FC at Joie Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Gareth Taylor, head coach of Liverpool Women(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Liverpool will go into the game on the back of a 4-2 home win over Sunderland in the Subway Players Cup at the St Helens Stadium on Wednesday.
Summer signing Natalia Ramos scored her first goal for the club in the victory and she can’t wait to take on Everton at Anfield for the first time.
She said: “It’s going to be incredible. Every game is important here because this is such a big club with a lot of history.
“We can’t wait for this game and it will be very special to play at Anfield in front of our fans and we thank them for their support. We just need to focus and play our game and we want this win.”
Liverpool have taken four points from their first three Women’s Super League matches with their opening-weekend 4-0 win at Charlton Athletic being followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur and a late 4-2 loss at Manchester City.
Everton are in even better form. They beat Birmingham City 2-0 at Goodison Park on Wednesday in the Subway Players Cup thanks to goals from Zara Kramzar and Yuka Momiki.
That made it three triumphs on the trot for the Blues, who bounced back from their opening-weekend 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace by winning 1-0 at home to Charlton and 1-0 away to West Ham United respectively in the Women’s Super League.
DAGENHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Ruby Mace of Everton celebrates with teammates after Laia Codina of West Ham United (not pictured) scores an own-goal during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between West Ham United and Everton at Chigwell Construction Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Dagenham, England. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images)
Everton celebrate their last-gasp Women's Super League winner at West Ham United (Image: James Fearn/Getty Images)
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Everton Women head coach Scott Phelan said: "To win three games on the bounce is an achievement that should not be taken lightly.
"We are looking forward to the game (with Liverpool). We have done well out of possession so far this season, which has been a positive. The WSL has always been competitive, but this season feels even more so.
"We are happy with our start - this is the most important thing. Hopefully, Sunday can add to that.
"It is something that is part of the calendar in our city. We hope we can make Evertonians proud on Sunday. To be the manager is a nice feeling for me and my family."