Liverpool’s women’s team is teetering on the edge of a crisis, and fans are starting to lose faith. With no wins, no clean sheets, and a shocking lack of shots on target, the Reds are staring down the barrel of a potential freefall in the WSL. While the men’s team dominates headlines with the future of Mo Salah, the women’s side is fighting for survival, languishing at the bottom of the table. But here’s where it gets controversial: is manager Gareth Taylor to blame, or is this a deeper issue rooted in the club’s strategy?
Sunday’s clash against second-bottom West Ham feels like a make-or-break moment. After a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa, social media erupted with calls for Taylor’s head, despite it being just his 10th league game in charge. It’s a stark contrast to last year’s seventh-place finish under Matt Beard, and even further from their fifth-place standing two seasons ago. The question on everyone’s lips: where did it all go wrong?
The summer sale of star player Olivia Smith to Arsenal for a record-breaking £1 million seemed like a bold move, but fans are left scratching their heads. Where did that money go? Apart from Swedish striker Beata Olsson, who’s single-handedly scored two-thirds of Liverpool’s meager league goals, the new signings haven’t exactly set the world alight. And this is the part most people miss: Liverpool’s goal-scoring record is joint-lowest in the league, tied with Leicester. Ouch.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There have been glimmers of hope, like the hard-fought draws against Chelsea and Brighton, and an impressive League Cup run. But as Taylor himself admitted after the Villa debacle, this was a ‘reality check.’ The team’s style has shifted away from direct play, but so far, it’s yet to pay off. They’re taking fewer shots, creating fewer chances, and struggling to convert the ones they do get. Even their bench strength is lacking, with just one second-half goal all season.
Here’s the kicker: Liverpool’s struggles aren’t just down to bad luck. They’ve faced a grueling schedule, key injuries, and the emotional toll of Matt Beard’s tragic passing. But fans are running out of patience. With the January transfer window looming, will Taylor get the chance to turn things around, or will the club pull the plug? And with no automatic relegation this season, could Liverpool afford to gamble on his long-term vision?
Taylor’s supporters argue he was handed a raw deal, appointed late in pre-season with little time to implement his philosophy. But results speak louder than excuses. As one fan put it, ‘A baker can’t keep serving flat loaves and expect praise.’ So, we have to ask: is Taylor the right man for the job, or is Liverpool’s decline a symptom of deeper systemic issues? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—is it time for a change, or should the club stick by their man?
