Liverpool's Women's FA Cup campaign has become a beacon of hope in a season marred by relegation fears, off-field tragedy, and a slow start under new manager Gareth Taylor. The Reds sit second bottom in the Women's Super League with just four wins from 21 games, yet they are two victories from lifting their first Women's FA Cup trophy. Sunday's semi-final against Brighton at 12:15 BST offers a chance to salvage a campaign that has tested the club's resilience.
The struggles began last summer when Liverpool sold key players Olivia Smith and vice-captain Taylor Hinds to Arsenal. The club also suffered the sudden deaths of former manager Matt Beard and kit man Jonathan Humble, as well as forward Diogo Jota from the men's team. These losses compounded a disastrous start: just two points from their first 10 WSL matches. Manager Gareth Taylor, appointed only four weeks before the season, admitted the club was behind in recruitment. "It was difficult in the first part of the season. There's no doubts we encountered a lot on and off the pitch," Taylor told BBC Sport.
Injuries further depleted a thin squad. Striker Sophie Roman Haug and playmaker Marie Hobinger both suffered anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries, leaving Liverpool without key attacking options. Despite these setbacks, the team showed character. Taylor praised his players: "This group of players have behaved exceptionally well in the difficult moments. They have really stood together as a team and that is what has got us to this point."
The January transfer window proved pivotal. Liverpool signed midfielder Denise O'Sullivan, forward Alice Bergstrom, and on-loan goalkeeper Jennifer Falk. Bergstrom scored three goals in her first three matches, while O'Sullivan brought experience and leadership. O'Sullivan noted: "I think bringing players in to add depth and strengthen the team has made an impact. Everyone's contributing to the success. The mentality of the team has changed. Every game we're going into now, we're looking to win and we're settling for nothing less."
The turnaround has fueled belief. Top scorer Beata Olsson said: "It's an aspiration of the club. Playing for Liverpool, you always want to get titles. We've had a tough season in many ways, 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 people saying that." Olsson added that reaching the final at Wembley would "send a really good signal for next year."
Liverpool's FA Cup journey has included a dramatic 3-2 win over Everton in the quarter-finals, sealed by a stoppage-time goal from academy graduate Zara Shaw. That victory epitomized the team's new-found resilience. Taylor emphasized the importance of the cup run: "The FA Cup, and how far we've gone, is something that's really inspiring for everyone because you don't always get rewards in football. Football's not fair, life's not fair—but this group have earned their chance."
Sunday's opposition, Brighton, are in impressive form—six games unbeaten, with draws against Manchester United and Arsenal, plus wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in the FA Cup. 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. We know we're really close. We are two games away from lifting a trophy."
On the other side of the draw, WSL powerhouses Chelsea face league champions Manchester City in the other semi-final. Regardless of the opponent, Liverpool's focus remains on the immediate challenge. The club has never won the Women's FA Cup, having lost three finals between 1994 and 1996 (the first as Knowsley United). A victory this season would mark the first major trophy since the Women's Championship title in 2022 and signal a return to the club's winning heritage.
For a club that won back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014, the drop-off has been stark. But as O'Sullivan put it: "It's an amazing club with a lot of history and I think Liverpool should be up there, winning trophies. That's what we want to do, so to be in a semi-final of the FA Cup is a credit to everyone who has got us there. We will give it everything." With two wins from glory, Liverpool's season—and future—hangs in the balance.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
