Guardian writers’ predicted position: 9th (NB: this is not necessarily Tom Garry’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 7th
Prospects
Liverpool are entering a new era after choosing Gareth Taylor as their head coach in August, hoping he will bring success in the long term and help build an identity for how thay want to play. The former Manchester City head coach’s appointment came 162 days after Liverpool’s former manager Matt Beard left, after an extensive recruitment process than the Guardian understands took much longer than usual because of a clause with Taylor’s previous contract, after Taylor had been identified earlier in the summer as the No 1 target. It was the first major coaching appointment overseen by the managing director, andy O’Boyle, who arrived in April, replacing Russ fraser.
After an unexpected fourth-placed finish in 2024, Liverpool ended last term seventh and they are hoping to improve on that and start building towards challenging for trophies again after making their fans wait for success for far too long; they have not achieved a top-three finish since winning back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014. Liverpool are one of only four clubs to have won the WSL but over the past decade there have been big question marks about the wider club’s ambition for the women’s team, who have been operating with a far smaller budget than the top sides.
This summer they sold Olivia Smith for a then world-record fee of £1m, breaking a historic barrier, but it remains to be seen how they intend to spend that money, making predictions tough about their campaign until the transfer window closes on thursday. They are yet to replace Smith with a statement signing.