Only three clubs in the WSL were able to defeat eventual champions Chelsea last season. 

Arsenal and Manchester City were two of them – although at least a few fans would have expected the big hitters to get the better of Emma Hayes’ side. 

GettyLiverpool achieved a rare feat by beating Chelsea last season[/caption]

But few, if any, thought Liverpool would do so, especially not in such emphatic and impressive style. 

That 4-3 victory over Emma Hayes’ side towards the end of last season looked to have killed off Chelsea’s title chances (only mistakes from City meant it did not), but perhaps more importantly it was the game that showed just how dangerous the Reds could be. 

Undoubtedly the standout team of last season, there is no club in the WSL who has a story quite as remarkable as Liverpool’s. 

Former champions of the WSL – that too, twice in a row back in 2013 and 2014 – the Reds have been relegated and promoted again since that era of great success. 

Back in 2022 after their promotion, ex-Liverpool Men’s manager Jurgen Klopp reflected on how he hoped the support for the women’s team would improve after the rocky ride. 

He told Sky Sports: “Obviously, Liverpool was in the last years not famous for treating or dealing with women’s football outstandingly well. They didn’t go down to the Championship for no reason.”

He added: “Now they are back and we have to make sure that we use the situation.”

But the good news for Liverpool fans? They are well and truly back in the mix, having impressively broken into the elusive top four last season. 

And the WSL’s longest-serving active manager has had more than a bit to do with that. 

The manager: Matt Beard

A manager who seems to have an overwhelmingly long-lasting and positive impact on every single player he coaches, Matt Beard masterminded a simply ingenious campaign last year. 

GettyBeard guided the Reds superbly last season in the WSL[/caption]

Unlike some of their competitors, Liverpool do not perhaps have a household name of the calibre of Sam Kerr, Alessia Russo or Lauren Hemp who frequently 

They do not have any active Lionesses on their team either – although 19-year-old England youth forward Mia Enderby is one to watch as she gets older. 

Rather the beauty of Liverpool’s success last season was in the togetherness and the consistency of the whole team.

And how exactly did the 46-year-old guide his team to such heights last year?

“Um, I don’t know – is the answer!” he jokingly told talkSPORT with a laugh.

“No, we’ve worked incredibly hard on the training pitch,” he admitted. 

He added: “One of my non-negotiables is the work ethic and I think if you look at the support that we’ve had (last) year home and away the supporters have been unbelievable. You know, they’re getting up at the crack of dawn to come and support us at some games. 

“We just said to the players look, you know, we’ve got to go out – we’ve got to perform. Fourth wasn’t guaranteed. I know it’d be tough for Man United after winning the FA Cup and playing Chelsea when it was at stake.

“So I was confident that we would finish fourth, but it wasn’t guaranteed to us. So we still had to perform.”

Another huge change which boosted Liverpool last year was a change of training location. 

The club bought back their old training facility Melwood for a reported fee of around £13million in June 2023, allowing the women’s team to move into a training facility befitting of the club’s huge status. 

GettyMelwood is where Liverpool legend is formed[/caption]

“Melwood has definitely brought the group closer together – and I’ll give you a couple examples of that,” Beard told talkSPORT. 

“When we were at Solar, the players were (arriving) at the report time whereas now they’re in probably one hour before the report time, we’re coming in, having breakfast or in the canteen. They’re talking they’re in the gym and you just see that connection from the players and It’s definitely brought the group closer together. 

“Melwood has had a big impact on our season this year for sure because there’s times when we were at the solar campus where we couldn’t train or we trained on two or three different pitches and that doesn’t help your preparation going into the game. 

“Obviously it puts players at risk of injury as well because you’re on different surfaces. But we’ve got that right and I think now that we’ve got this it’s really about us. So we want to improve on last year – but we had a great season.”

Star player: Marie Hobinger 

Remember that 4-3 victory that Liverpool registered over Chelsea last season?

Well, midfielder Marie Hobinger certainly does. 

It was in that match that she became the first player in WSL history to assist three goals from corner kicks in a single match. 

She only signed for Liverpool last year but she had the joint record for most appearances last season, playing in every single WSL game. 

GettyHobinger’s corners are reminiscent of Trent Alexander-Arnold[/caption]

She also has 38 international caps for Austria and at the age of 23, looks like she has a long and successful career ahead of her. 

One to watch: Olivia Smith

Liverpool Women signed the most expensive player in their history this season for a considerable £210,000.

And the player that prompted that impressive investment? 20-year-old midfielder Olivia Smith.

The Canadian international joins from Sporting CP in Portugal where was voted the league’s player of the year after a stunning debut. 

GettySmith could be a vital new ingredient to Beard’s WSL challengers[/caption]

She already has 10 international caps and became the youngest player ever to debut for Canada Women at the age of 15 years and 94 days old.

With the Reds hoping to continue their steady path up the WSL table, a young player with talent like this could be crucial.

And after scoring 13 goals in 18 appearances last season, Smith might even have her eyes on the Golden Boot!

Transfer window

For all their progress, Liverpool have suffered a huge blow over the transfer window. 

England youth captain and homegrown talent Missy Bo Kearns has left the club to sign for Aston Villa, having been at the club since she was eight years old. 

The midfielder had over 100 appearances for the club and is one-to-watch when it comes to the future of the Lionesses. 

Smith comes in as a replacement but Kearns’ absence will likely still be felt at the club – the only question is, how much she will be missed.