Liverpool's Women's Super League campaign has been a struggle, but the Reds are just two wins away from lifting the Women's FA Cup. Gareth Taylor's side, sitting second bottom in the WSL with only four league wins all season, have a golden chance to salvage their campaign when they face Brighton in Sunday's semi-final.
The season started disastrously. Liverpool took just two points from their opening 10 WSL matches, hampered by a late managerial appointment and key departures. Star player Olivia Smith was sold to Arsenal for a record £1m, and vice-captain Taylor Hinds also moved to north London. Recruitment lagged, with three signings on deadline day.
Off-field tragedies compounded the misery. Former manager Matt Beard and kit man Jonathan Humble died suddenly, as did men's forward Diogo Jota. On the pitch, striker Sophie Roman Haug and playmaker Marie Hobinger suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries, leaving the squad thin.
However, the January transfer window brought a revival. Midfielder Denise O'Sullivan, forward Alice Bergstrom, and on-loan goalkeeper Jennifer Falk injected quality and competition. Liverpool's form improved, winning all four of their WSL games in the new year to pull clear of relegation danger.
"The mentality of the team has changed," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "Every game we're going into now, we're looking to win and we're settling for nothing less." Top scorer Beata Olsson added: "We've had a tough season, but this type of ending would be incredible. A lot of people talked about us as performing poorly, but now I don't hear so many saying that."
Liverpool have never won the Women's FA Cup. Their last trophy was the 2022 Championship title, and they have lost three previous FA Cup finals (1994–1996). For a club that won back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014, the drop-off has been stark, but success at Wembley could be a catalyst for a brighter future.
"It's an amazing club with a lot of history," O'Sullivan said. "Liverpool should be up there, winning trophies. We will give it everything." Manager Taylor believes the squad deserves reward for their resilience: "This group of players have behaved exceptionally well in difficult moments. They have really stood together as a team."
Standing in their way is an in-form Brighton side, unbeaten in six games, including draws with Manchester United and Arsenal, and a 3-2 win over Manchester City. The Seagulls also beat Arsenal 2-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Taylor warned: "There's three teams alongside us who are all dreaming the same thing. Our form has been really good and our games against Brighton have been tight."
The other semi-final features Chelsea against Manchester City, two of the WSL's powerhouses. Liverpool will need to overcome a confident Brighton before potentially facing one of the league's giants. But given their journey, Taylor's team may feel nothing can scare them.
A victory on Sunday would not only book a trip to Wembley but also signal that Liverpool's rebuild is on track. As Olsson put it: "Looking at our season, if we could end it that way, it sends a really good signal for next year." The opportunity is immense—redemption for a battered squad and a statement that Liverpool can still compete with the elite.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
