Liverpool: What led to the club not winning seven Premier League matches?

When Liverpool were relegated from the English Football League in 2020, criticism was widespread about the lack of investment in the women’s team.

The club has since moved the women to the Melwood Training Center – previously used by the men’s team – and switched to playing matches at the refurbished St Helens Stadium.

They have also broken the club transfer record at least three times in the last five years, showing progress in the market.

But was that enough?

Their budget is still well below the top Premier League clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, and they have been overtaken by the other teams around them in the table.

Under Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool adopted a business model that paid off immeasurably for the men’s team, claiming 11 major trophies, including two Premier League titles and a Champions League.

Their philosophy is a buy-sell model, where they make profits over time and spend big when the team needs a refresh.

This summer, the club spent £415m on transfers for Arne Sloat’s side, having received £187m from player sales. They also pocketed £174.9 million in prize money for winning the league.

The club’s intention is to run the women’s team in an equally sustainable way, but it has not worked so far and the gap to the top has increased each season as WSL-owned Premier League teams have benefited from ambitious investments.

Liverpool sold key player Olivia Smith to Arsenal for a record £1m this summer, after buying the Canadian striker for a club record £200,000 in 2024. It followed the exit of vice-captain Taylor Hinds, also to Arsenal.

Liverpool will receive payments from Arsenal in installments and have pledged to spend in January as a result. But the majority of their summer budget went to compensation for Taylor’s appointment after an issue with a clause in his contract with Manchester City, who sacked him last March.

By the time Taylor arrived, just four weeks before the start of the season, Liverpool were late in the recruitment process and rushed to bring in players ahead of the opening match against Everton, including three signings on deadline day.

They also appointed new managing director Andy O’Boyle, head of recruitment Rob Clarkson and technical co-ordinator Niamh Fahey this summer – all of whom will play a crucial role in their January business.

Adding quality is a must and the club cannot afford another poor transfer window.

Taylor admitted last week: “It has been fed properly. This team needs help. We lost players from last season and did not replace them.”