Taylor relishing Merseyside derby at Anfield in WSL opener

Gareth Taylor believes Liverpool’s opening Women’s Super League fixture against Everton at Anfield is a “fantastic” way to start the season.

Taylor was appointed as Liverpool’s head coach last month after parting ways with Manchester City towards the end of the 2024-25 season.

The Reds finished seventh in the WSL last term, 19 points behind third-place Manchester United after winning just one of their last six matches.

Taylor, who has won eight of his nine previous matches against Everton in the WSL, is relishing the opportunity to start his new role with Liverpool at Anfield.

“It’s great. I thought it was [a] fantastic [way to start],” Taylor told the Liverpool website.

“After that we play two away fixtures. I think to start at Anfield is top-class. What a season-opener that is, to start on TV against your rivals.

“It’s a really good opportunity for us to make a good start, and I think take away the result, regardless of what happens I think what we want to do is put on a good performance. Obviously by doing that it gives us a much-improved opportunity to win the game.

“It’s a nice record to have [against Everton] but it’s one that probably doesn’t apply to this job! Sometimes you have performances against teams where you get the result you require and sometimes you don’t get the result.

“Of course, we’re not expecting it to be a free-flowing game. We know what derbies are like, they’re tense. There’s very little constructive football played, I would say. It’s a bit more about passion and endeavour and hard work.”