Nine games, nine losses for troubled West Ham & Liverpool

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Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Across the last two seasons, Liverpool have lost six successive matches for the first time since 2012Nine games, nine defeats. Two-time top-flight champions Liverpool's problems lie primarily in attack, while West Ham have defensive woes too.The Reds came into this campaign with a new manager, Gareth Taylor, who replaced the late Matt Beard in the summer.Beard's sudden passing - which led to Liverpool's WSL fixture at Aston Villa being postponed - will no doubt have impacted many in the squad, who knew and played under him.In football terms, Taylor has also had to do without Olivia Smith.

It is the only league game which Liverpool have lost by more than two goals - and the only one where they have scored, after 12 minutes through Cornelia Kapocs.And they seem to be further away than ever from ending that drought. And also be able to repeatedly sprint in the way that we want to and that can take time, particularly when you're changing what we're trying to change here at the club and bring in a new style and a new way of playing."But these have been lifeless and unambitious displays which stem from the manager's decisions.London City have more quality and resources than most newly promoted teams, but the sight of Liverpool clinging on for a point all afternoon at Hayes Lane was still unedifying.The hosts may have won the game with an 89th-minute Elena Linari penalty, but they had already hit the post and should have had the victory sealed earlier.Hammers have 'an appetite for self-destruction'Image source, BBC SportAfter their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, the Hammers have conceded 16 goals in five games.

Shekira Martinez, who scored 10 in 12 WSL matches last season, has yet to register and spurned the best chance against Villa, while Viviane Asseyi - who scored 13 in 2024-25 - has struggled too."We were a little bit hesitant with some of the decisions [in the final third]," added Skinner."I'm asking them a lot at the moment to be a little bit more positive, be a little bit more direct in and around the box to find runs, passes and take people on."Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Under Rehanne Skinner, West Ham have now lost seven WSL games in a rowThis is not the first time West Ham have floundered under Skinner's management since she took charge two seasons ago.In 2023-24, two of their three league wins were against relegated Bristol City. "We finished very strong last season, so a lot of people want to talk about it in that way but it is still very early," she said.But after six seasons of keeping their head above water - only once finishing in the top half - this looks like their toughest WSL campaign yet.Liverpool, meanwhile, finished fourth two years ago, but memories of relegation in 2020 will rear their heads if things continue as they are.Only one at most will drop, maybe none.