2020–21 Liverpool F.C. Women season

Liverpool
2020–21 season
Head coach	Vicky Jepson; (until 12 January); Amber Whiteley (interim); (from 12 January)
Stadium	Prenton Park, Birkenhead
Championship	3rd
FA Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	Group stage
Top goalscorer	League: Rinsola Babajide and Rachel Furness (5); All: Rachel Furness (7)
	← 2019–20 2021–22 →

The 2020–21 Liverpool F.C. Women season was the club's 32nd season of competitive football and its first season outside the FA WSL, the highest level of the football pyramid, since the league's foundation.^[1] Along with competing in the FA Women's Championship, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Niamh Fahey was announced as captain on 17 August 2020, replacing Sophie Bradley-Auckland who took a leave of absence in order to focus on the running of her family's residential care home business amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel Furness was named vice-captain.^[2]

Manager Vicky Jepson departed the club by mutual consent on 12 January 2021 with the club sat in 3rd place in the league. She had been in charge since October 2018 having first joined the club as a programme lead for the LFC Foundation in 2009.^[3] Assistant manager Amber Whiteley assumed the role on an interim basis.^[4]

Squad

^[5]^[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ENG	Rachael Laws
2	DF	ENG	Becky Jane
3	DF	ENG	Leighanne Robe
4	MF	WAL	Rhiannon Roberts
5	DF	IRL	Niamh Fahey (captain)
6	DF	ENG	Sophie Bradley-Auckland
7	FW	ENG	Jessica Clarke
8	MF	ENG	Jade Bailey
9	FW	DEN	Amalie Thestrup
10	FW	ENG	Rinsola Babajide
11	MF	ENG	Melissa Lawley
12	DF	ENG	Taylor Hinds


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	GK	CAN	Rylee Foster
14	FW	ENG	Ashley Hodson
15	DF	NZL	Meikayla Moore
18	MF	WAL	Ceri Holland
19	MF	ENG	Amy Rodgers
21	MF	ENG	Missy Bo Kearns
24	FW	ENG	Kirsty Linnett
27	MF	NIR	Rachel Furness (vice-captain)
30	MF	ENG	Emily Brough
32	DF	ENG	Lucy Parry
—	GK	ENG	Eleanor Heeps
—	FW	ENG	Mia Ross

Pre-season

Liverpool scheduled five preseason games ahead of their debut FA Women's Championship campaign, putting particular focus on playing Coventry United away in order to acclimate themselves to the 3G surface that five Championship teams play on. All games were behind closed doors in order to fit with COVID-19 health restrictions.^[7]

9 August 2020 Friendly	Liverpool	–	Blackburn Rovers
				Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Note: No official scoreline released

12 August 2020 Friendly	Liverpool	–	Reading
				Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Note: No official scoreline released

16 August 2020 Friendly	Liverpool	–	Brighton & Hove Albion	Birkenhead
				Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Note: No official scoreline released

23 August 2020 Friendly	Coventry United	1–4	Liverpool	Coventry
	Merrick	Report	Clarke x2 Babajide Fahey	Stadium: Butts Park Arena Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

30 August 2020 Friendly	Manchester United	0–0	Liverpool	Leigh
		Report		Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

FA Women's Championship

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	11	6	3	37	15	+22	39	6	3	1	24	6	+18	5	3	2	13	9	+4

Last updated: 2 May 2021.
Source: FA WSL

Results

6 September 2020 1	Liverpool	1–1	Durham	Birkenhead
14:00	Furness 38' Babajide 46'	Report	Lambert 11' Holmes 63' Wilson 76' Hepple 87'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver

13 September 2020 2	London Bees	0–3	Liverpool	Canons Park
14:00	Robert 29'	Report	Lawley 50' Babajide 60' Furness 90'	Stadium: The Hive Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt

27 September 2020 3	Liverpool	4–0	Charlton Athletic	Birkenhead
14:00	Furness 12', 84' Bailey 34', 58' Linnett 90'	Report	Legg 51'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Melissa Burgin

4 October 2020 4	Coventry United	1–2	Liverpool	Coventry
14:00	Anderson 71'	Report	Lawley 11' Thestrup 33'	Stadium: Butts Park Arena Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

11 October 2020 5	Leicester City	2–1	Liverpool	Quorn
14:00	Devlin 21' Bailey-Gayle 23' Paul 56' Blanchard 90+8'	Report	Clarke 58' Linnett 63' Fahey 90'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy-Ann Briggs

1 November 2020 6	Lewes	2–2	Liverpool	Lewes
12:00	Rood 43' Hack 74' Jhamat 82'	Report	Thestrup 25' Babajide 58'	Stadium: The Dripping Pan Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Jane Simms

8 November 2020 7	Liverpool	1–0	Sheffield United	Birkenhead
14:00	Babajide 5' Laws 90'	Report		Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Daniel Locker

15 November 2020 8	Blackburn Rovers	0–0	Liverpool	Bamber Bridge
14:00		Report		Stadium: Sir Tom Finney Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Cristiana Hattersley

6 December 2020 9	Liverpool	4–0	Crystal Palace	Birkenhead
14:00	Babajide 2', 90+5' Rodgers 32' Thestrup 75'	Report		Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 192 Referee: Richard Aspinall

13 December 2020 10	London City Lionesses	0–1	Liverpool	Dartford
14:00	Ejupi 80'	Report	Moore 31'	Stadium: Princes Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Georgia Ball

20 December 2020 11	Durham	2–0	Liverpool	Durham
12:00	Sharpe 45' Robson 54' E. Roberts 70'	Report	Babajide 34'	Stadium: Maiden Castle Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: James Westgate

17 January 2021 12	Liverpool	1–2	Leicester City	Birkenhead
14:00	Kearns 10' Babajide 30' Lawley 47'	Report	Flint 43' (pen.) Devlin 71', 81'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Chloe Ann-Anderson

7 February 2021 13	Charlton Athletic	2–2	Liverpool	Crayford
14:00	Vassell 18' Clifford 90+1' (pen.)	Report	Furness 77' Holland 89'	Stadium: The Oakwood Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Jordan Gibson

28 February 2021 14	Liverpool	3–0	London Bees	Birkenhead
14:00	Jane 8' Holland 73' Rodgers 79'	Report	Gibson 18'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lauren Impey

7 March 2021 15	Crystal Palace	0–1	Liverpool	Bromley
14:00		Report	Fahey 65'	Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy May

14 March 2021 16	Liverpool	5–0	Coventry United	Birkenhead
14:00	Fahey 23', 67' Jane 24' Holland 52' Lawley 84'	Report		Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Anne-Briggs

28 March 2021 17	Liverpool	1–1	Blackburn Rovers	Birkenhead
18:30	Kearns 34'	Report	Hughes 60'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Amy Barber

4 April 2021 18	Liverpool	2–0	Lewes	Birkenhead
12:00	Cousins 7' (o.g.) Moore 55'	Report	O'Rourke 32'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Declan Brown

25 April 2021 19	Sheffield United	0–1	Liverpool	Chesterfield
14:00		Report	Thestrup 30' Hinds 84' 90+1' Foster 89'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Magdalena Golba

2 May 2021 20	Liverpool	2–2	London City Lionesses	Birkenhead
14:00	Jane 44' Rodgers 56'	Report	Bennett 68' Agg 81'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lauren Impey

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Leicester City (C, P)	20	16	2	2	54	16	+38	50	Promotion to the WSL^[a]
2	Durham	20	12	6	2	34	15	+19	42
3	Liverpool	20	11	6	3	37	15	+22	39
4	Sheffield United	20	11	5	4	37	15	+22	38
5	Lewes	20	8	4	8	19	22	−3	28

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

^ Dependent on obtaining a licence.

Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, Liverpool will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[8]^[9]

18 April 2021 Fourth round	Leicester City	1–0	Liverpool	Quorn
14:00	Cain 72'	Report		Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

FA Women's League Cup

7 October 2020 Group stage	Liverpool	3–1	Manchester United	Birkenhead
14:00	Fahey 28' Furness 33' (pen.), 83' Hinds 64' Babajide 72' (pen.)	Report	McManus 28' Toone 88'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Walsh

4 November 2020 Group stage	Liverpool	0–3	Manchester City	Birkenhead
14:00		Report	Coombs 42' Lavelle 52' Park 90+2'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt

18 November 2020 Group stage	Everton	1–0	Liverpool	Liverpool
19:00	Christiansen 6'	Report		Stadium: Walton Hall Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	MCI	EVE	LIV	MNU
1	Manchester City	3	2	0	1	0	6	1	+5	7	Advanced to knock-out stage	—	3–1	—	—
2	Everton	3	2	0	0	1	3	3	0	6	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking	—	—	1–0	1–0
3	Liverpool	3	1	0	0	2	3	5	−2	3		0–3	—	—	3–1
4	Manchester United	3	0	1	0	2	1	4	−3	2		0–0	—	—	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

Squad statistics

Appearances

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Rachael Laws	19	0	17+1	0	1	0	0	0
2	DF	ENG	Becky Jane	16	3	12+2	3	0+1	0	1	0
3	DF	ENG	Leighanne Robe	17	0	12+1	0	1	0	3	0
4	MF	WAL	Rhiannon Roberts	22	0	19	0	1	0	2	0
5	DF	IRL	Niamh Fahey	23	3	19	3	0+1	0	3	0
6	DF	ENG	Sophie Bradley-Auckland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	FW	ENG	Jessica Clarke	12	1	4+6	1	0	0	2	0
8	MF	ENG	Jade Bailey	15	1	11+1	1	1	0	2	0
9	FW	DEN	Amalie Thestrup	21	4	12+5	4	1	0	2+1	0
10	FW	ENG	Rinsola Babajide	15	6	11+1	5	0	0	2+1	1
11	MF	ENG	Melissa Lawley	23	3	14+5	3	1	0	3	0
12	DF	ENG	Taylor Hinds	24	0	20	0	1	0	3	0
13	GK	CAN	Rylee Foster	6	0	3	0	0	0	3	0
14	FW	ENG	Ashley Hodson	14	0	9+3	0	0	0	1+1	0
15	DF	NZL	Meikayla Moore	19	2	11+4	2	1	0	2+1	0
18	MF	WAL	Ceri Holland	8	3	5+2	3	0+1	0	0	0
19	MF	ENG	Amy Rodgers	16	3	10+4	3	1	0	0+1	0
21	MF	ENG	Missy Bo Kearns	19	2	8+7	2	1	0	1+2	0
24	FW	ENG	Kirsty Linnett	15	1	8+5	1	1	0	1	0
27	MF	NIR	Rachel Furness	19	7	13+3	5	0	0	2+1	2
30	MF	ENG	Emily Brough	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
32	DF	ENG	Lucy Parry	8	0	2+3	0	0+1	0	0+2	0
	GK	ENG	Eleanor Heeps	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Mia Ross	1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From	Ref.
7 July 2020	GK	Rachael Laws	Reading	^[10]
16 July 2020	DF	Taylor Hinds	Everton	^[11]
17 July 2020	FW	Amalie Thestrup	Roma	^[12]
28 August 2020	DF	Meikayla Moore	MSV Duisburg	^[13]
28 January 2021	MF	Ceri Holland	Kansas Jayhawks	^[14]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To	Ref.
23 May 2020	FW	Courtney Sweetman-Kirk	Sheffield United	^[15]^[16]
29 May 2020	GK	Anke Preuß	Vittsjö	^[17]^[18]
30 May 2020	MF	Christie Murray	Birmingham City	^[19]^[20]
2 June 2020	GK	Fran Kitching	Sheffield United	^[21]^[22]
19 June 2020	FW	Niamh Charles	Chelsea	^[23]^[24]
2 July 2020	DF	Jemma Purfield	Bristol City	^[25]^[26]

References

^ "Liverpool Ladies FC club history". Liverpool Ladies FC. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^ "Niamh Fahey named new captain of Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC.
^ "Vicky Jepson: Liverpool Women's manager leaves club by mutual consent". Sky Sports.
^ "Liverpool FC Women club statement". Liverpool FC.
^ "LIVERPOOL FC WOMEN". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
^ Kelly, Andy (5 August 2019). "Niamh Fahey appointed vice-captain of Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
^ "LFC Women to commence pre-season fixtures on Sunday". Liverpool FC.
^ "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
^ "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.
^ "Liverpool FC Women complete Rachael Laws signing". Liverpool FC.
^ "Taylor Hinds joins Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC.
^ "Amalie Thestrup signs for Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC.
^ "Liverpool FC Women complete signing of Meikayla Moore". Liverpool FC.
^ "LFC Women complete signing of midfielder Ceri Holland". Liverpool FC.
^ "Liverpool FC Women confirm Courtney Sweetman-Kirk departure". www.liverpoolfc.com.
^ "Courtney Sweetman-Kirk signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Anke Preuss to leave Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.
^ "Vittsjö värvar Anke Preuss från Liverpool efter skadan". www.expressen.se (in Swedish).
^ "Christie Murray to leave Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.
^ "Christie Murray joins Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
^ "Fran Kitching to depart Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.
^ "Fran Kitching signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Niamh Charles departs Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.
^ "Chelsea FC Women recruit Niamh Charles". www.chelseafc.com.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Jemma Purfield departs LFC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.
^ "Jemma Purfield is a Robin". Bristol City.

[table_note_res_CL0.030413165237016-8] Dependent on obtaining a licence.

[1] "Liverpool Ladies FC club history". Liverpool Ladies FC. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.

[2] "Niamh Fahey named new captain of Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC.

[3] "Vicky Jepson: Liverpool Women's manager leaves club by mutual consent". Sky Sports.

[4] "Liverpool FC Women club statement". Liverpool FC.

[5] "LIVERPOOL FC WOMEN". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 3 July 2019.

[6] Kelly, Andy (5 August 2019). "Niamh Fahey appointed vice-captain of Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 6 August 2019.

[7] "LFC Women to commence pre-season fixtures on Sunday". Liverpool FC.

[9] "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.

[10] "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.

[11] "Liverpool FC Women complete Rachael Laws signing". Liverpool FC.

[12] "Taylor Hinds joins Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC.

[13] "Amalie Thestrup signs for Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC.

[14] "Liverpool FC Women complete signing of Meikayla Moore". Liverpool FC.

[15] "LFC Women complete signing of midfielder Ceri Holland". Liverpool FC.

[16] "Liverpool FC Women confirm Courtney Sweetman-Kirk departure". www.liverpoolfc.com.

[17] "Courtney Sweetman-Kirk signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[18] "Anke Preuss to leave Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.

[19] "Vittsjö värvar Anke Preuss från Liverpool efter skadan". www.expressen.se (in Swedish).

[20] "Christie Murray to leave Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.

[21] "Christie Murray joins Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.

[22] "Fran Kitching to depart Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.

[23] "Fran Kitching signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[24] "Niamh Charles departs Liverpool FC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.

[25] "Chelsea FC Women recruit Niamh Charles". www.chelseafc.com.^{[permanent dead link]}

[26] "Jemma Purfield departs LFC Women". www.liverpoolfc.com.

[27] "Jemma Purfield is a Robin". Bristol City.

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Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	11	6	3	37	15	+22	39	6	3	1	24	6	+18	5	3	2	13	9	+4

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	11	6	3	37	15	+22	39	6	3	1	24	6	+18	5	3	2	13	9	+4