Women’s Super League 2026-27 preview No 9: Liverpool
Liverpool head into the new Women's Super League season with renewed optimism after a difficult 2025-26 campaign that saw them finish 11th. Head coach Gareth Taylor, who arrived late last summer and had limited pre-season preparation time, has now had a full off-season with the squad, while managing director Andy O'Boyle has used a third transfer window to reshape the team. Guardian writers have tipped Liverpool to finish eighth this season, reflecting cautious confidence that they can build on a strong second half of last term.
Key summer arrivals include Germany forward Vivien Endemann from Wolfsburg, who has 17 caps and helped her country to Olympic bronze in 2024, and Japan youth international Mao Itamura, last season's Eredivisie player of the year, signed from Feyenoord. Goalkeeper Khiara Keating has reunited with Taylor, though the club lost loan keeper Jennifer Falk and defender Gemma Bonner. Liverpool, who unlike Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City receive little financial backing from owners Fenway Sports Group, have nonetheless turned an overall profit of more than £500,000 over the past eight seasons. They open the campaign away at promoted Charlton, hoping for a faster start than last year, when they did not win in the league until late January.
- Liverpool aim to improve on last season's 11th-place WSL finish
- Signed Germany's Vivien Endemann and Japan's Mao Itamura this summer
- Season opens away to newly promoted Charlton Athletic
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Liverpool have reason to expect a better season: Gareth Taylor now has a full off-season to work with the squad, and Endemann and Itamura add proven quality and attacking potential. Their strong finish to last season suggests the side can build momentum and improve on 11th, with eighth a plausible target.
The case against
Optimism should be tempered by last season’s 11th-place finish and a winless league start that lasted until late January; a stronger second half does not guarantee consistency across a full campaign. Liverpool have also lost experienced players, and limited owner backing may make it harder to match better-resourced rivals if the new signings take time to settle.
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