Dowie: We can maintain title fight
Goal machine Natasha Dowie insists Liverpool Ladies can maintain their push for the Women's Super League title, but claims the team will have to be at their best to hold off Arsenal and Bristol Academy.
The second and final part of the 2013 Super League resumes on Saturday when the Reds entertain the Gunners at the Halton Stadium at 7pm BST, and there is all to play for.
Matt Beard's side lead the table on goal difference from Bristol Academy, while Arsenal lie in fifth place, eight points behind Liverpool but with two games in hand.
Dowie insists every game between now and the season finale on September 29 is a cup final.
"It has given us a lot of confidence going into the second half of the season, being top of the league and in pole position, but then also a lot of pressure as teams are trying to catch us," Dowie told Liverpoolfc.com.
"Every single game is a cup final now so we need to make sure that we go into every single game not underestimating anyone, and if we perform as well as we did in the first part then we should have a good end to the season.
"I hope we can keep our push for the title going; we believe we can, and I definitely think there is room for improvement. We are a new team and I think it's brilliant how well we have gelled straight away.
"It's great that the manager has strengthened the squad and it's great to have competition for places.
"As a player you don't want to be complacent and you want to be on your toes all the time and have players fighting for your position.
"We feel we can improve and we are going to have to up our game again in the second part of the season, which will be harder than the first part as teams want to beat us."
Back on May 7, Dowie was on the mark as Liverpool thumped reigning champions Arsenal 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
It was a night that stunned the women's football world and put the new-look Liverpool Ladies team firmly on the nationwide map.
"It was a bit of a surreal night really," added Dowie.
"To beat Arsenal is a great achievement but to beat them 4-0 was really exciting. They had chances as well but it was one of those games when we threw bodies in the way and we played some great football and deserved to win the game.
"We had lost 2-1 to Arsenal the week before at Anfield in the FA Cup semi-final and I think the foreign girls who had never played against them before realised after that game we were good enough to beat them, and the performance at the Emirates showed that.
"It was a huge statement to beat Arsenal 4-0 as they have won the league for so many consecutive years.
"A lot of people have been talking about us this season with the money that the club have invested in the ladies team and going full-time.
"We have answered a lot of questions so far but we need to come away this season winning something, otherwise I think we would have underachieved.
"Arsenal have got quality players, they are winners who hate losing so we need to be at our best, playing 100 per cent on Saturday."
Dowie is the in-form striker in the Women's Super League having plundered an impressive 10 goals in just 12 appearances.
It is that kind of form which helps teams win prizes and the No.9 is hoping to maintain that standard, starting with the visit of title rivals Arsenal.
She said: "I'm really pleased. In the past I've always kind of scored two then gone a couple of games without scoring, so to score 10 goals in consecutive games has been brilliant, and to be honest I should have had even more with the amount of chances the girls create for me.
"I've always been top goalscorer at every club I've been at, but this season I want to be the league's top scorer."
Dowie is also encouraging supporters to get along to the Halton Stadium on Saturday night and cheer on the team.
She said: "Aside from Bristol we are probably the two most in-form sides in the country. Arsenal have got some great international players on show and so have we.
"Women's football has come on in leaps and bounds and we are playing some really attractive football, so for any families and kids come down and interact with us and meet the players.
"Come down to the Halton Stadium and your support is appreciated."
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