Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool women’s team weren’t ‘treated outstandingly well’

‘They didn’t go down for no reason’: Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool women’s team weren’t ‘treated outstandingly well’ by the club in recent seasons after row over lack of investment as he offers congratulations for their promotion back to the Super League

  • Liverpool secured promotion back to the Women’s Super League on Sunday
  • It came after they were relegated to the Championship in 2019-20 campaign
  • Jurgen Klopp congratulated coach Matt Beard and the team on their promotion
  • But he said they had not been ‘treated outstandingly well’ in recent seasons
  • There was criticism of a lack of investment at the time of their relegation 

Jurgen Klopp has congratulated Liverpool’s women’s team on their promotion after not being ‘treated outstandingly well’ in recent years.

Matt Beard’s side returned to the Women’s Super League with a 4-2 win at Bristol City on Sunday having dominated the second-tier all season.

The Reds won back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 but then suffered several years of turbulence culminating in their relegation on a points-per-game basis during the Covid-affected 2019-20 season.

Jurgen Klopp has criticised Liverpool’s owners over their treatment of the club’s women’s team in recent seasons after they won promotion back to the Super League over the weekend

Liverpool sealed the Championship title with a 4-2 win at Bristol City on Sunday afternoon

Liverpool sealed the Championship title with a 4-2 win at Bristol City on Sunday afternoon

There was criticism of a lack of investment by the club’s owners in the women’s team, the fact they trained separately from the men’s training ground and complaints over a poor playing surface at Tranmere’s Prenton Park.

This was all put into sharper focus by the fact Klopp’s star-studded team won the Premier League during the same season.

Having only finished third in the Championship in 2020-21, there was pressure on Beard and the players to win promotion this time around, which they achieved in style.

Klopp, speaking ahead of his team’s Champions League quarter-final against Benfica, punched the air in delight when asked about the success but also made reference to the team’s strife.

He said: ‘Congratulations! I sent messages yesterday, I was really happy and was following it all the time, looking at the results always after our games and around our games, when they play, who they play.

Missy Bo Kearns celebrates scoring Liverpool's fourth goal at Ashton Gate on Sunday

Missy Bo Kearns celebrates scoring Liverpool’s fourth goal at Ashton Gate on Sunday

Matt Beard has been instrumental for Liverpool Women in helping his side to promotion

Matt Beard has been instrumental for Liverpool Women in helping his side to promotion

‘After the result last week it was clear they needed a draw against Bristol to make it and they won. I am really happy for the girls and for Matt it is a big, big thing.

‘Liverpool was not in the last years famous for treating or dealing with the women’s football outstandingly well. They didn’t go down to the Championship for no reason.

‘But now they are back and we need to make sure that we do use that situation. I met a lot of the girls in the last two or three months for different reasons, we did wonderful things together with Meikayla [Moore] for LGBT and then I spoke to others and it was really nice.

‘It is a wonderful team, great coach and I’m really happy for them to get promoted.’

Captain Niamh Fahey opened the scoring for Beard's side in the promotion-winning victory

Captain Niamh Fahey opened the scoring for Beard’s side in the promotion-winning victory

There were wild celebrations at the final whistle as Liverpool returned to the top-flight

There were wild celebrations at the final whistle as Liverpool returned to the top-flight 

Liverpool now have the chance to re-establish themselves in the Super League next season and will hope soon to challenge powerhouses Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City at the top end.

Coach Beard said after the win at Ashton Gate on Sunday: ‘I think we’re worthy winners, we’ve worked incredibly hard to get back there [to the WSL].

‘We’ve got plans in place, not just for this year but we’ve got three and five year plans in place that we’re all working towards.

‘It’s not an easy division to go back into but I do think we’ve got a good group of people here. Our aim and ambition is to be sensible, to consolidate ourselves in the division then progress year on year.’ 



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