The FA’s decision to end the Women’s Super League season on a points per game (PPG) basis in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in June 2020 caused controversy. Liverpool FC Women were relegated despite a third of the season being left to play. In the shortened 2019/20 season they had six points from 14 games which averaged 0.43 PPG. This was 0.11 PPG behind Birmingham City and meant Liverpool would be out of the WSL for the first time since its inception in 2011.
The 2019/20 relegation was the culmination of a tough period for the club. Their high watermark came in 2013 and 2014 as they won back-to-back WSLs. But the club failed to hit those heights in the following years amid criticism of how the ladies team was run.
Fast forward nearly two years and redemption has been secured. After an underwhelming third place finish in the FA Women’s Championship last season, the club won the title this campaign with two games to spare following a 4-2 victory over second-placed Bristol City on 3rd April.
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The Reds’ ladies have had a superb season with 49 points from 20 games. They have scored a whopping 42 goals and conceded just eight. After losing their first game of the campaign Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 to secure their return to the top flight.
“It was unbelievable”, said Missy Bo Kearns, Liverpool’s homegrown midfielder, as she reflected on the feeling of beating Bristol City and achieving promotion. “We’ve performed great all season but especially against Bristol and it made it extra sweet beating them to win the league. As a Liverpool fan growing up all I’ve wanted to do is win trophies for the club and I hope this is the first of many.”
Niamh Fahey, Liverpool skipper and defender, agreed. She said: “It was a special feeling. We didn’t need to get the three points at Bristol to win the league but to do it is another sign of the challenges we’ve overcome this season. Every time we’ve been asked a question we’ve answered it so it is a fantastic feeling to get the job done.”
A key reason for the club’s success was the reappointment of legendary manager Matt Beard ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. Beard was in charge between 2012-2015 and arguably oversaw the most successful period in their history. Under him they won back-to-back WSLs in 2013 and 2014 - the only two times Liverpool have been champions of England.
Beard was ecstatic with the achievement and happy to be back at a club that means so much to him. He said: “We don’t have a divine right to be in the WSL but we’re there on merit now and are delighted. It’s been hard to see what’s happened to the club since I’ve not been here. I had a great time in my previous spell and we settled in the area as a family. Sometimes you just fit somewhere and maybe I just fit Liverpool but I’m happy that I’m back and I’m loving working at the club again.”
Liverpool have been near faultless this season which included a seven-match winning streak from late November to mid February. Crucial to their form have been the goals of Leanne Kiernan. The striker has netted 12 this season and is second in the Championship’s scoring charts. The Republic of Ireland international said: “It’s been one of the best seasons of my career. I’ve been in England for four years now and this is one I’d like to remember - it’s been a beautiful campaign.
“I think from the start we knew that Beardy had a plan and the first few games we were doing well but struggling to create a lot of chances. The more we got into the season the better we did - I think after the fourth or fifth game we were very confident about our promotion chances.”
For Fahey, now 34, she has had a hugely decorated career. With more than 100 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, her honours include winning three WSL titles and five FA Women’s Cups during spells at Arsenal and Chelsea. Having been at the club since 2018 she has experienced some tough times for Liverpool including relegation but how did this achievement rank for her? She said: “It’s right up there. I’m a lifelong Liverpool supporter so to be at the club and win some silverware to get us back up to the top league is a massively proud moment for me - I’m ecstatic and I can’t wait to lift the trophy.
“A key part of the turnaround has been Matt coming in and revitalising the squad. He’s brought belief back. He’s been at Liverpool and won titles before and he’s come in and got us over the line.”
Jurgen Klopp has been very vocal in his support of the women’s team and when their triumph was confirmed he said: “I was really happy. I was following it all the time, always looking at the results. I’m really happy for the girls and for Matt, it’s a big, big thing.”
For the women’s team to have the support of such a figurehead at the club makes a massive difference. Kiernan said: “Klopp is a great guy and I love the way that he goes out of his way to support us. Even when we’re on media days he’ll know who we are playing the following week and our results the week before - it's great to see.”
Fahey echoed these thoughts and said: “It’s cool - it’s a really important thing. A little bit of support like that goes a long way. To know we have the backing of Jurgen, the men’s side and also the top of the club is fantastic. They’ve come in and taken control and that has helped us get back to where we want to be with changes off the pitch.”
Sunday’s home game at Prenton Park against Sheffield United will be followed by the trophy presentation for Liverpool in what is sure to be a special occasion. The players have joked about how they will celebrate and teased captain Fahey that she should replicate Jordan Henderson’s famous ‘shuffle’ that has become a familiar sight for supporters in recent years.
Fahey admitted: “It’s gathered momentum now so I think there will be disappointment if i don’t do it so yes, there’s talk of the ‘Hendo shuffle’.”
“Have you seen her dancing? It is horrific,” joked Kiernan, before she added: “It’s going to be a great moment and I can't wait to cherish it with my family.”
After a two-year absence from the top flight, their promotion represents a huge step forward as Liverpool look to become a force in the WSL once again. Beard has repeated how this is just the start as part of a three to five year plan.
He explained: “The plan was to get back in the WSL. We need to consolidate when we get up because it’s a tough league but part of our plan was winning trophies and that’s not going to happen overnight - we understand that and there is a process in place to be as competitive as we can. We’re in the process of trying to secure our own purpose built training facility for the first team and academy.
“We want to be as successful as we can but I'm not naive. You can look at when we played Arsenal (Liverpool lost 4-0 in the FA Cup fifth round) - it was quite a competitive game. But in moments where we switched off we got punished. The level of the top three in the WSL, which has been a consistent top three - there’s a massive gap with everyone else. It’s going to take us two or three transfer windows to be able to compete with those top teams but the ambition is to be there long term.”
For Kiernan, she knows a tough challenge awaits after a fantastic year but is fully focused on the task ahead. She concluded: “We want to have a great year but we can’t expect it to go smoothly. We know it’s going to be tough but hopefully our preparation will be good in pre-season. We know we’re capable of staying up there and that’s where the club should be so we’ll be ready.”
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