Ladies ready for semi-final test
Liverpool Ladies are in action on Sunday evening when they take on Notts County in the Continental Cup semi-final at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes, at 6.30pm BST.
Goalkeeper Danielle Gibbons believes the tie with Notts County provides Matt Beard's side with a chance to salvage their season.
The Reds had a disappointing FA Women’s Super League with BT Sport campaign as they finished seventh in FA WSL 1, having won the title in the previous two seasons.
Liverpool Ladies go into their semi-final with Notts County on Sunday on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Brescia in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League’s round of 32 tie.
Notts County won the two meetings between the sides in WSL 1 this season, but Gibbons says the two cup competitions give the Reds the chance to end the season on a high.
She said: “We have done quite well in the cup this season. The semi-final is a massive game for us because we want to finish the season on a high.
“If we can progress in Europe and get to the Continental Tyres Cup final then I think we have to look at this being a successful season, considering the injuries we have had.
“We wanted to win the league and that has gone, but we still have a chance to win something.
“Though Notts County beat us twice in the league, form goes out the window when it comes to a cup tie. Especially a semi-final, it’s about who wants it more on the day and we will be up for it.
“The way we played in the Champions League has given us great confidence.”
View from the opposition
Notts County’s season has been more successful than their opponents; finishing fifth in the FA WSL 1 and as runners-up to Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Like Liverpool they go into the semi-final at the Select Security Stadium on the back of a defeat, having lost their last two league matches of the season, and Notts County goalkeeper Carly Telford is also desperate to make the Continental Tyres Cup final at the AESSEAL New York Stadium in Rotherham on November 1.
Telford said: “It would mean everything to me to win this competition. I won what was the League Cup when I was 23 and it was a special moment for me.
“The club as a whole – both the men’s team and the women’s team – have been waiting to lift some silverware for some time so the chairman and our fans would certainly be very happy if we could lift the cup.
“If we could finish the season by lifting the cup then it would give us something to build on and for me this competition is as important as the FA Cup or the WSL 1 and if we won it, I would be just as proud.”
Last time out
The last time the two sides met was in July this year as Notts County sealed a league double against the Reds thanks to a double from England international Jess Clarke.
After Clarke gave the Lady Magpies an early lead, Rosie White scored her first goal for Liverpool Ladies following a great run from Kate Longhurst before Clarke fired home the winner in the second half to seal all three points for the visitors.