'I'm out to banish Anfield memory'
Liverpool FC Ladies take on Arsenal at Anfield in the Women's FA Cup semi-final on Friday night - and for one of the Reds stars, it is a chance to banish a painful memory.
Central midfielder Becky Easton, a lifelong Liverpool fan, has over 25 years' experience of playing at the top level.
Having re-joined the club in January, she is eager to make up for lost time and help Matt Beard's new-look side produce a notable scalp over reigning Super League champions Arsenal.
Easton told Liverpoolfc.com: "As a lifelong Liverpool fan it's great for me to get the chance to play at Anfield.
"I played there once before about 15 years ago which was thoroughly enjoyable but we lost 5-0 to Arsenal, so we won't dwell on that too much!
"It's a fantastic stadium, the pitch is fantastic, and as a Liverpool fan and Liverpool FC Ladies player it will be the highlight of the season so far.
"My dad used to stand on the Kop in his younger days. I've got two brothers and a sister and we are all mad Liverpool fans so this will be a special game for me.
"The player in the men's team I look up to the most is Steven Gerrard. In the past I've always loved players like Jimmy Case, Graeme Souness and Steve McMahon, so Steven took on that role as the tough-tackling midfielder.
"I have been around a long time as this is my 24th season in the women's game. We've got quite a lot of young players who probably haven't played at a stadium like this in such a big game like this, so I'd like to think I can help them along and settle the nerves a little bit."
Life at Liverpool FC Ladies in 2013 is very different to what it was like in her first spell.
Easton played for Liverpool between 1994 and 1997 and was instrumental when the Reds finished runners-up in the top division in 1995.
After leaving, Easton had two spells across Stanley Park with Everton either side of a switch to Doncaster Belles. She has won the Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup.
Her extensive contribution to women's football was acknowledged when she was chosen to be an Olympic torch-bearer in June 2012.
Now a key part of Beard's new-look team, Easton is impressed with the plans to make Liverpool Ladies a real force in the ladies game again.
She added: "That's part of the reason I wanted to sign - and probably the same for the other players as well. We like what Matt is trying to do with the team and the support has been great from the men's team as well. The set-up is probably the best in the country.
"We got the squad together around January and we are in most days, train nearly every day, and the team around us have been great.
"We've got great medical support and exercise scientists, so we are probably in the best shape we could be in.
"We've played four games, won three of them and drew with Everton, so it's been a great start for us."
The Anfield clash with Arsenal will be their sternest test yet, but while there is a real respect for the Gunners, Easton insists Liverpool won't go into the game fearful of them.
She added: "Arsenal are obviously the benchmark for the women's game in this country and have been the best team in the country for about 10 to 15 years, so it will be nice to pit ourselves against them and see what level we are at the moment.
"We are a new squad and it's nice to face the best team in the country to see what we can learn from them, what Matt can learn about the squad and then take it from there for the rest of the season.
"All of our girls will be up for it because it's a semi-final, especially against Arsenal at Anfield.
"Arsenal don't lose very often and they have just been beaten twice in a row, so they definitely won't want three losses. They will be up for it, so I can see it being quite a competitive and physical game."
Besides quality new additions from Europe and around the country, Beard's side has a fantastic team spirit and everyone has settled in to their new surroundings very quickly.
"You'd think it would be difficult because there's six or seven foreigners as well amongst 12 new signings but I have to say the team spirit and the atmosphere is great," she said.
"A lot of the players live close to each other so we tend to socialise quite a lot together which has helped as well.
"We've tried to keep our feet on the ground. We have a great squad and a great team and we'd love to be challenging for honours but I think we have to be realistic. We are looking at a top-four finish and hopefully challenge for the cups.
"I'd love to win something this year and I think we are capable of doing that."