By Valentine Ikpoba
Liverpool FC Women begin their 2026/27 Barclays Women's Super League campaign away at Charlton Athletic on Sunday, September 6, with a 2pm kick-off. For Liverpool, it is a chance to hit the ground running after a relegation-threatened 2025/26 season. For Charlton, it is their first-ever WSL match as a top-flight club, and they are ready to make their mark.
Match Context
Liverpool struggled a lot through the first half of last season and, for a time, seemed the favourites to be relegated, but a strong second-half showing, with the help of new January signings, helped turn things around for Gareth Taylor's side. The expectation is to improve things this season, and Taylor said he believes this team can improve on that but doesn't want to set a limit on what they can achieve.
Charlton arrive in the WSL as a newly promoted side and face an immediate tough test of whether they can remain at this level
Team News
Charlton defender Charlotte Newsham has sustained an ACL injury, which is a significant blow to Karen Hill ahead of their first-ever WSL fixture. No further injury concerns have been confirmed. Jodie Hutton is expected to lead the line
Liverpool will make the trip to Charlton without attacker Anna Josendal, who has picked up a hamstring injury.
Summer signing Mari Ward and right-back Lucy Parry are doubts; Sophie Roman Haug is not yet available, and Mao Itamura is sidelined.
“We have a couple of small issues,” said head coach Taylor at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Beata Olsson, who finished as Liverpool's top scorer last season with 11 goals in all competitions, is expected to lead the line and be a key part in everything they do as an attacking forward.
Key players to watch
The Goalkeeper, Sophie Whitehouse, the hero of Charlton's historic promotion, is the heart of a defence that conceded the least goal in the division, playing every single minute of the season. Her four penalty saves in the playoff shootout against Leicester solidify her as one of the main players of the team
Beata Olsson is the obvious name to watch for Liverpool. The 25-year-old finished as the club's top scorer last season, and her finishing ability will be necessary to Liverpool's chances of getting off to a winning start.
Predicted XI
Charlton Athletic Women:
Sophie Whitehouse; Georgia Robert, Hannah Blundell, Lily Simkin, Mia Ross; Jodie Hutton, Katie Bradley, Sonny Carey; Lexi Lloyd-Smith, Timilehin Olubunmi, Carla Humphreys
Liverpool Women:
Rachael Laws; Grace Fisk, Hannah Silcock, Taylor Hinds; Fuka Nagano, Marie Höbinger, Ceri Holland; Beata Olsson, Melissa Lawley, Mia Enderby
Prediction and Match Outlook
The two sides faced each other in an FA Cup quarter-final tie in April, and it was a tight game that required an extra-time winner from Liverpool. Charlton will be organized and motivated, but Liverpool's quality in the final third should prove the difference
Charlton W - Liverpool W (0-2)
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