Liverpool face anxious wait over relegation decision after Women's Super League season curtailed

Questions: Liverpool Women believe they were prepared enough to see out the WSL campaign
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Joe Krishnan25 May 2020

Liverpool Women will wait to discover whether or not they are to be relegated after the Women's Super League season (WSL) was brought to an early conclusion on Monday.

The WSL and Women's Championship were both suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, and now a decision has been taken not to try to restart, but instead focus on preparations for the 2020-21 campaign.

A Football Association (FA) statement said the decision had been reached after "overwhelming feedback" from clubs, with recommendations for settling sporting outcomes - such as the awarding of titles, promotions and relegations and European qualification - sent to the FA Board for consideration.

But Liverpool, who were bottom of the WSL before the season was halted and one point adrift of safety having played one game more than 11th-placed Birmingham, believe they were equipped to deal with the "operational and financial obligations" regarding a resumption of the season.

A club statement read: "The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges on a global scale, many of course far more important than football.

Disappointed: Liverpool Women manager Vicky Jepson 
Liverpool FC via Getty Images

"During the lockdown, the focus of the staff and players of Liverpool FC Women has been to maintain focus and fitness in preparation for a return to WSL action once it was safe and appropriate to do so.

"Preparation for this has been ongoing for many weeks and as a club we believe we would have been able to meet the operational and financial obligations associated with a return to play, once detailed drafts and accurate protocols had been shared with clubs.

"Now that it has been deemed that a return to WSL play is not possible, we await an equitable solution to those issues still to be decided in a campaign where a third of our league games were still to be played."

Liverpool manager Vicky Jepson admitted the decision to conclude the season was "obviously disappointing" and paid tribute to the club's fans for their support.

She told the club's official site: "These are difficult decisions and it's obviously disappointing that the season is to end in this way.

"Myself, the backroom staff and every single player who wears the badge would like to thank all our fans for their loyal support this season.

"It's had some highs and lows but we'll never forget the 23,500 who turned up at Anfield for our first WSL derby (against Everton).

"We'll be forever grateful to them and to all those who've travelled up and down the country supporting us at every game.

"We now look forward to the chance to play for our supporters again when it is safe for us to all come back together."

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