Dowie aiming for season finale drama
Fresh from notching the winning goal in a Champions League tie on Wednesday night, Liverpool Ladies striker Natasha Dowie has not given up hope of a dramatic Women's Super League title triumph this Sunday.
The 26-year-old settled the Reds' maiden appearance in the European competition in their favour to secure a 2-1 result over Linkopings FC ahead of the return fixture in Sweden next week.
Joyous though Matt Beard's side were on the evening, attentions have had to immediately switch to the domestic campaign and the season finale this weekend - with a host of different permutations in place to decide the champions.
The Ladies, the reigning title-holders, are currently in third place with one round of matches left to play, trailing leaders Chelsea by three points and on goal difference, and behind Birmingham City by a single point.
Victory over Bristol Academy at the Select Security Stadium is therefore imperative - and the hosts would hugely appreciate your support, with tickets available for just £1. Click here to purchase online.
From there, Beard's charges will be relying on hearing news of helpful scorelines from elsewhere in the division. Dowie is taking a glass-half-full approach to the finale, however, and will be using every trick in the book to inspire an incredible conclusion.
"It's not in our hands on Sunday but crazier things have happened in football," she said. "What's meant to be will be. We'll go into the Bristol game focusing on getting the win that we need and then hopefully the gods can shine down on us and bring us our trophy home.
"There have been so many twists and turns this season and I'm praying that it happens for us but if it doesn't, it's been terrific for the girls just to be in contention considering the amount of injuries and things that have gone against us this season.
"We want to be competing for trophies and we don't want to lose our title and we'll fight until the end. We're just going to go out there and try to put on a good performance for the supporters in our last home game and get the win we need.
"The other two teams have got some tough games. Manchester City away is really tough [for Chelsea] while Notts County [against Birmingham] are in great form at the moment. I'll have to text a few of the girls to ask them to do us a favour.
"The pressure is all on the other teams. We know what that feels like and it's a bit of a surreal experience to be there but we're excited and I'm confident in this group of players that we can get our victory and then it's up to the other teams to do us a favour."