Liverpool has clear Champions League aim as 10-game spell offers exciting future glimpse

Liverpool Women surpassed expectations by securing a top-four finish in just their second season back in the WSL, marking a significant improvement. Their next goal must be clear after this remarkable achievement.

Liverpool secured their top-four spot with a 4-0 victory over Leicester on the final day.

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After eight months, 132 games, and 437 goals, the Women’s Super League (WSL) season has officially concluded. And what a season it has been for Liverpool.

In only their second season back in the top flight, the Reds achieved a top-four finish. While there is no direct reward for finishing fourth — only the top three teams in the WSL qualify for Europe — it is a significant statement of intent from Matt Beard’s team, who finished seventh last season.

The campaign began with a bang as Liverpool defeated title-hopefuls Arsenal at the Emirates on the opening day. This was the first of many memorable away games for the Reds and a reminder of the potential heights they could reach if they continued on this promising path.

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However, the season was not without its challenges. Liverpool won only two of their next six games, losing to Everton in the Merseyside derby and enduring a heavy 5-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

“We can’t let today define us,” Beard said after the latter game. “We need to learn from it. We need to review the goals, analyze the clips, show the players their options during the debrief. But we won’t let today overshadow all our hard work.”

His players echoed this sentiment, responding to the setback with a resounding 4-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, followed by a 2-1 win against Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village a few weeks later. It was against Marc Skinner’s side 11 months earlier that Liverpool had suffered one of their most painful defeats since their WSL return, so it was fitting that they ended the calendar year at the same venue, this time securing their first-ever win over their bitter rivals.

Since the turn of the year, Liverpool has continued to improve, completing a double over United and securing a memorable win against Chelsea at Prenton Park. They have lost just one of their last 10 WSL games, winning seven. During this period, the Reds have collected 23 points, with only Manchester City (27) and champions Chelsea (24) earning more.

This is an encouraging statistic as Liverpool aims to challenge for a Champions League place next season. “It’s a big turnaround compared to last year,” Beard, who was recently named WSL Manager of the Season, told club media after Saturday’s win at the King Power.

“Last year we knew we were good enough to stay in the division, and this year was about advancing. I think we signed a young squad, and every time we faced a setback, we regrouped and moved forward. I think it’s the beauty of the group’s mentality.”

Indeed, Liverpool’s mentality has been exceptional this season, and it’s exciting to think about how far this team can go. There is still plenty of hard work ahead, but as this season ends, the Reds’ future looks very promising. The next challenge? To qualify for the Champions League.

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