Taylor proud of mentality and improvement despite FA Cup defeat

Liverpool hosted Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Sunday in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Semi Final. Despite falling short in the 95th minute with a devastating 3-2 loss, the Reds displayed a stellar first-half performance and showed promise in front of a home crowd. Denise O’Sullivan and Beata Olsson scored two early goals to put Liverpool ahead, but the Seagulls upped the tempo in the second-half and progress to the Final at Wembley.

Head coach, Gareth Taylor addressed the media ahead of this clash, setting out team news, the underdog narrative and mentality as the season draws to a close.

Injury setbacks

Taylor stated that squad news is very similar, only with Cornelia Kapocs’ returning to the matchday squad. Taylor values her presence within the team:

“It is important that we have got her back.”

He also provided injury updates on Martha Thomas, Gemma Bonner, Lucy Parry and Sam Kerr, who still remain in rehabilitation from their injuries. To play on Sunday would have been:

“A little bit beyond them.”

Defeat against City

Off the back of their narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, Taylor said he felt the team had “really good progressions” and were actively competing “the way we want to be able to compete”.

He added that on a different day the Reds could have taken a result from the Barclays Women’s Super League Champions. The squad need to pull together and see out big moments better, protecting their lead more consistently:

“On another day more than enough opportunities to take something from the game.”

However, regarding their attacking chances, Liverpool performed in a “complete contrast to [their game against] West Ham.” Taylor was impressed with the threat the Reds posed in the opposition’s half and added that they need to remain consistent in attacking build-ups of play.

Underdog narrative

Using realism, Taylor admitted his awareness that statistically his team were “probably the lowest ranking” side left in the competition, but flipped this positively. He stated that he was proud of the club’s progression through the prestigious competition, as it speaks volumes about their mentality and improved performances since the start of their 2025/26 campaign, where they struggled to get off the mark in the league:

“Speaks volumes about what we’ve done…to be able to progress to the semi final of an FA cup.”

Mentality

Commenting on the narrative of the way the season has panned out for Liverpool Taylor stated “you don’t always get what you deserve.” With many challenging periods, the club remained united and determined to turn things around:

“Stood together came through that difficult period.”

Playing with their own identity and style of football as Liverpool Women was important to Taylor, as he encouraged the squad to “go out and be us.” With the potential of the looming pressure of a Final, he also commented that even reaching a Semi Final of a prestigious competition like the FA Cup is “regardless a really positive step in the right direction.” Liverpool needed to play the game and not the occasion to maintain a winning mentality and calm under the pressure of the final four.

Although Taylor’s Reds fell short of a spot in the Final at Wembley, their FA Cup campaign is one to be proud of. Considering the struggles for Liverpool in the first half of the season, reaching the final four in the competition is a promising sign that instills belief for the future of the club in the topflight for seasons to come.