Liverpool captain Grace Fisk has sent a defiant message ahead of the new Women's Super League season, insisting the team can show their true selves after a difficult campaign last time out. The Reds kick off the new season away at Charlton Athletic on Sunday at 2pm.
Last season, Liverpool registered their lowest finish since earning promotion back to the top flight of women's football in 2022. The campaign was also marred by the death of former WSL-winning Liverpool manager Matt Beard in September, who Fisk previously worked with at West Ham United.
Fisk: Tough toll on everyone
Speaking to the ECHO, the 28-year-old said spirits were high ahead of the season opener. "Definitely," Fisk said. "We're all aware of things that happened off the pitch last year which probably heavily influenced stuff on the pitch as well as us not performing well enough."
"So we're hoping obviously this season will be a lot more smooth sailing, and we can really show our true selves on the pitch, because I think last year was a tough toll on everyone. But definitely this year, that's behind us, and we're just looking to look forward and push on and do our best on the pitch for our fans and the football club."
Fans' support praised
The support of Liverpool's fans through an emotionally-challenging season was also praised by head coach Gareth Taylor, and Fisk said she hoped her team could reward their loyalty with improved performances and a push towards longer-term success.
"I think this season, obviously, we want to have a much more positive season for ourselves and for the fans," Fisk said. "I think obviously the fans stuck with us last season for a lot of hard games and hard performances."
"So, I think this year, we definitely want to climb up that table as much as possible, and we believe we can. We have a really good squad now with some of the best coaches in the world, so definitely that's our main goal."
"And, you know, as the years go on, we want to be competing at the top. We want to be competing in the Champions League, all that stuff. But I think for now, we just take it game by game and see how it goes, but we're full of belief and full of confidence that we'll have a much more successful season than last year."
Captaincy honour
Fisk, who joined Liverpool from West Ham United in summer 2023, was named club captain last year after Niamh Fahey retired. Taking on the captaincy just weeks before Beard's death meant Fisk's responsibilities were greater than could have ever been foreseen, but the defender said she was grateful for the support of her team-mates and staff and felt honoured to wear the armband.
"Yeah, it's a huge honour, I think," Fisk told the ECHO. "It's something I never really expected as a player, always at the forefront of my mind is obviously how I can be the best player for the team. So that's my main goal within a team."
"But obviously having that extra responsibility as captain especially after all the stuff we went through last year, I learned a lot of lessons and had a lot of support around me to help, which was good."
"So yeah, it's a real privilege and that sometimes adds a bit of pressure and expectation, but I like to try and take that into my football and lead by example, and I have a really great support network here with the girls and they really help me as well as the staff."
Cup ambitions and new signings
After coming so close to a Wembley FA Cup final only to lose 3-2 to Brighton at the semi-final stage, Fisk was relishing the prospect of another push for a first trophy since the Championship in 2022 - and the opportunity to play more games through the expansion of the Subway Players Cup and the WSL itself, which has grown from 12 teams to 14.
"All the cups are a really exciting opportunity for us to get our hands on silverware, which is something that we've not done as a club in quite a few years," Fisk said. "And we've been to the semi-final twice now in a matter of years, so it's definitely one that we know we can go far in and hope we take it one further and get to the final and hopefully get to Wembley."
Liverpool found goals hard to come by last season, scoring just 21 times in 22 WSL games. To rectify that, the club has signed German international winger Vivien Endemann and Eredivisie Player of the Year Mao Itamura, while England international goalkeeper Khiara Keating has joined from Manchester City following the departure of Jennifer Falk in January. The Reds have also signed defenders Sara Agrez and Mari Ward, and Spanish midfielder Natalia Ramos became the latest addition in August.
Fisk felt Liverpool could be confident of improved results for the season ahead. "We've had a lot of good new signings to be fair, from Christmas and now," Fisk told the ECHO. "I think Jennifer Falk, our keeper, leaving was obviously a big loss for us and getting someone of Khiara [Keating]'s quality and stature in was really important."
Liverpool kick off the new WSL season at 2pm on Sunday, September 6 against Charlton Athletic, which will be televised on Sky Sports. The first home game at the Brewdog Stadium in St Helens will be against Tottenham Hotspur at 2pm on Sunday, September 13. The Reds will play their first of three games at Anfield this season against Everton at 2pm on Sunday, September 27. Supporters can purchase a 'Hat-Trick Package' to attend all three games at Anfield from the club's official ticketing page, which costs £25 for adults with concessions also available.
