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Beth Lindop
Multiple Authors
LIVERPOOL, England — As the final whistle blew at St Helens Stadium on Sunday, Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor rallied his players into a huddle. His team had just secured their first Women’s Super League (WSL) victory of the season, triumphing 2-0 against the high-flying Tottenham with two goals in stoppage time, and emotions were running high.
“That’s what happens when you trust in what we do,” he told the team. “The energy was great today. I’m incredibly proud of you all.”
In the midst of the euphoria was midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, who made her WSL debut after joining from NWSL team North Carolina Courage just a week prior. O’Sullivan is one of six players acquired by Liverpool during the January transfer window to strengthen the squad for the remainder of the season. This was crucial since, with nine matches left, Liverpool is currently at the foot of the table, just a point above the relegation zone.
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Rob Clarkson, the head of recruitment, has the critical task of bringing in the quality and experience needed to prevent the club from facing the league’s first relegation playoff this spring. The recruitment effort for January is estimated to have cost more than £1 million ($1.37 million), funded in part by the significant fee received from the sale of star forward Olivia Smith to Arsenal for a then-world-record fee.
As Liverpool’s new record signing at £300,000, O’Sullivan acknowledges the high expectations placed upon her.
“I’m genuinely excited,” O’Sullivan shared with ESPN. “It took a while for the deal to finalize, but I’m thrilled to be here. The club has treated me wonderfully, and having fellow Irish players like Leanne Kiernan and [technical co-ordinator] Niamh Fahey has helped ease the transition.
“After spending nine years in the States, where I had an incredible experience playing for one club, I felt a strong urge for a new challenge at the end of last season. I’ve already played in the WSL for a brief period [with Brighton] back in 2020, and being part of such a top-tier league felt like the right move.”
O’Sullivan’s addition is a notable achievement for Liverpool, which had also attracted interest from several clubs across the WSL and Europe. With over 128 international caps for the Republic of Ireland, the 30-year-old arrives with significant prestige and a desire to help revitalize the club.
“Liverpool is one of the most renowned clubs globally,” O’Sullivan pointed out. “The name alone was a huge pull for me, coupled with the impressive facilities the club provides.
“You really need to experience them firsthand to appreciate their quality, and being here over the past few weeks has been remarkable. Each day, you feel like a professional athlete; they take great care of you with everything you need to perform at your best.
“With chefs preparing your breakfast daily, and everything you need to excel as an athlete, it genuinely feels like home. The facilities include saunas and jacuzzis in the locker room—all essentials for a footballer. And upon entering the training ground, you encounter a welcoming atmosphere where everyone plays a part within the club.”
Indeed, Liverpool’s AXA Melwood Training Centre is a tremendous asset, pivotal in attracting new talent to the club. This facility served the men’s team for over 70 years before their move to a newer training facility in 2020. After initially selling the site to a housing developer, the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), repurchased it for £13 million in 2023.
The training venue is considered one of the top facilities in the WSL and is a testament to the club’s renewed commitment to its women’s team after their demotion to the Championship in 2020. Although Liverpool secured a top-four finish in just their second season back in the top tier in 2024, they have yet to replicate the achievements of their men’s team, which recently clinched the Premier League title.
The summer departure of star player Smith was a significant setback, and plans for the current season suffered due to the late appointment of new head coach Taylor, who officially began in August because of constraints in his prior contract with Manchester City.
While the former Wales international hasn’t achieved immediate results at Liverpool, sources have indicated that the club understands the challenges he faced with a disrupted preparation period. Taylor remains a highly regarded figure at the training facility.
The victory over Spurs was the result of enduring efforts, showcasing Taylor’s influence even before Mia Enderby secured two late goals that clinched a vital three points. For O’Sullivan, the head coach’s vision for the club significantly influenced her decision to join the two-time WSL champions.
“I had a Zoom meeting with Gareth before my signing, and I was genuinely impressed,” she recounted. “He has a clear strategy for how he envisions the team playing, and attending his training sessions has allowed me to grasp that vision. He is an excellent coach with a keen attention to detail, capable of identifying the small elements that can enhance a player’s performance. I truly believe I will improve while working alongside him.”
Taylor’s role at Liverpool is further complicated by a spate of injuries to key players, with three members of the starting squad suffering ACL injuries in 2025. On a personal level, the squad was heartbroken by the passing of beloved former manager Matt Beard in September, along with the unexpected loss of the team’s kit manager, Jonathan Humble, in October.
While it’s difficult to assess the emotional impact of these tragedies on Taylor and the players, it would be unjust to underestimate their effect on the team’s performance during what has been, for various reasons, a challenging season.
Nonetheless, the tenacity and determination exhibited against Spurs was evident, and O’Sullivan is optimistic that the club possesses the resources to make the remainder of the season a success.
“I’m here to support the team as much as I can,” she expressed. “Everyone is united in this objective, and the collective desire is immense. We’re all working diligently to rise from the bottom of the table and escape the relegation battle. Speaking with everyone at the club, there’s a shared vision to contend for the WSL title within a few years. That’s my ambition too—I want to win trophies with Liverpool and propel the team forward.”
Ultimately, regardless of how the season unfolds, it’s clear that Liverpool still has strides to make toward realizing its ultimate goal of becoming one of Europe’s top teams.
“This is just the beginning,” Taylor encouraged his players on Sunday. With their first victory finally secured, Liverpool aims to embark on an exciting new chapter.