After a challenging start to the 2025-26 Women’s Super League (WSL) season, Liverpool may have finally found the spark they desperately needed. Following a 12-game winless streak and sitting at the bottom of the WSL table with just four points, optimism around the Reds had been in short supply. However, Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup fourth-round triumph over London Bees offered a glimmer of hope for manager Gareth Taylor and the team.

Liverpool End Winless Streak with Dominant FA Cup Display

Liverpool’s 6-0 demolition of fourth-tier London Bees highlighted the impact of their recent January signings. Five different players found the net, including three fresh arrivals who made immediate contributions.

• Denise O’Sullivan, the newly signed midfielder from North Carolina Courage, opened the scoring within a day of joining.
• Martha Thomas, on loan from Tottenham, marked her debut with a headed goal.
• Alice Bergstrom, who arrived from Hacken earlier this month, scored twice in a rapid two-minute spell during the second half to seal Liverpool’s first victory since a 4-1 League Cup win at Sheffield United on 22 November.

Beyond the senior players, 16-year-old Mazie Trueman made history by becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever player, further underscoring the promising blend of youth and experience now in the squad.

January Signings Offer Immediate Impact

Liverpool’s January acquisitions have added both quality and depth to the squad:

• Denise O’Sullivan brings vast experience, having played 128 times for the Republic of Ireland and won multiple NWSL titles, including championships and Challenge Cups in 2022 and 2023.
• Martha Thomas, a 29-year-old Scotland international, boasts 13 goals in 66 WSL appearances for Tottenham and significant top-flight experience.
• Alice Bergstrom, along with Anna Josendal and Jennifer Falk, strengthens Liverpool in key positions, though Josendal will be sidelined temporarily due to injury.

O’Sullivan emphasized her commitment upon signing:

“Liverpool is a massive club, and when you join a club of this stature, it comes with huge responsibility. I want to help this team, and getting results is what I’m here for.”

Thomas also highlighted the draw of playing under Gareth Taylor, a former striker:

“I know Gareth from his Manchester City days and respect his coaching abilities. That, along with being a Liverpool fan, made this move an easy decision.”

Mazie Trueman: A Star in the Making

16-year-old Mazie Trueman made her debut against London Bees, becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever player at 16 years and 88 days, surpassing Lucy Parry’s previous record of 16 years and 150 days. Trueman nearly scored on debut but was denied by offside and strong goalkeeping from Tia Ginn.

Trueman comes from a footballing family, with brothers Ben and Reece also part of Liverpool’s academy. Manager Gareth Taylor praised her performance:

“We like Maizie, and we know she’s very young. She’s trained with the first team a lot, and it felt fitting for her to make her first start in this game.”

FA Cup Success as a Confidence Boost

The emphatic FA Cup win demonstrates that Liverpool’s new signings are capable of lifting the squad’s morale. The combination of experienced recruits and academy talent suggests that Taylor’s side could use this victory as a springboard for the rest of the season.

The FA Cup result was also a reminder of the Reds’ potential when fully motivated and adequately reinforced. With 10 WSL games remaining, Liverpool remains under threat of relegation, with West Ham just one point ahead and Everton and Leicester only four and five points better off, respectively.

The Road Ahead: WSL Survival in Focus

While the FA Cup provides a morale boost, Liverpool’s real challenge lies in the Women’s Super League. The team will face crucial fixtures, including a home clash with in-form Tottenham on 25 January and a trip to Manchester United on 1 February.

Taylor remains pragmatic about the team’s ongoing requirements:

“We’ve still got a little bit of work to do in the window. Some signings were needed last summer, but we had to wait until now to make the moves we wanted.”

If Liverpool can maintain momentum, integrate their new signings effectively, and continue to develop young talents like Mazie Trueman, a late-season survival push in the WSL is possible.