Gareth Taylor's first Liverpool game confirmed as Reds announce new Women's head coach

Liverpool Women have confirmed the appointment of former Manchester City Women manager Gareth Taylor as their new head coach.

The former Burnley and Nottingham Forest player joins the Reds' ranks after a five-year stint in charge of the Sky Blues from 2020 to 2025 and takes over from predecessor Amber Whiteley.

The latter took temporary charge of Liverpool earlier this year following Matt Beard's departure, and Liverpool have confirmed that Whiteley will continue as an assistant to the new head coach.

"I am delighted to have been appointed as Liverpool’s new head coach," Taylor told the official Liverpool website. "Everyone in football knows about the history, size and potential of this club, and I am really looking forward to the task ahead.

“Our aim is to create a team that supporters can be proud of, which plays good football and which will hopefully bring success along the way."

Taylor an "outstanding candidate" for Liverpool manager after Manchester City success

He's here ?? pic.twitter.com/wHU3grsCYY
— Liverpool FC Women (@LiverpoolFCW) August 8, 2025

Following a three-year spell as Man City's Under-18 boss from 2017 to 2020, Taylor was appointed women's head coach and led the club to their third FA Cup title after only a few months.

The 52-year-old also took the Citizens to the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 2021-22 - winning the latter - and achieved two second-placed Women's Super League finishes in 2020-21 and 2023-24.

Liverpool Women's managing director Andy O’Boyle added: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Gareth to the club. This has been a very detailed process and it was clear that Gareth was the outstanding candidate.

"He has a proven track record of building successful, identity-driven teams and his ability to develop players and help them reach the next level is second to none.

“We have a very clear vision of how we will return LFC Women to the upper echelons of the game and this is a crucial step on that journey.

“We want our team playing with a clear identity as a Liverpool team, playing Liverpool football in front of passionate Liverpool fans. Gareth shares that vision and we believe he has the qualities and experience to deliver it."

When will Taylor's first Liverpool Women's game be?

Taylor - who will be joined by lieutenant Chad Gribble on Merseyside - is confirmed to be taking charge of Saturday's behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa, taking place at the Lions' training ground.

Liverpool will then round off their pre-season preparations against Durham on August 17 and Manchester United on August 20, before opening the WSL campaign with a blockbuster Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield on September 7.

The Reds placed seventh in the 2024-25 Super League season with 25 points from 22 matches, comfortably securing a third-straight season of top-flight football.

However, Taylor will be without former Liverpool attacker Olivia Smith, who completed a world-record transfer to Arsenal earlier this summer.