Key events
20 mins: Russo gets a run at the Liverpool defence but goes down a blind alley and misses her pass to Foord. It’s not quite happening in attack for Arsenal.
Smith makes another good foray down the visitors’ right but nobody can meet her dangerous-looking cross.
18 mins: It should be no secret, but it’s worth mentioning how talented a player Olivia Smith is. She was just 15 (and only just!) when she was given an international debut for Canada and she’s already played in her homeland, in Portugal and now in the WSL by the age of 20.
Marie Hobinger has picked up the game’s first yellow card.
15 mins: This is better stuff from Liverpool, with Olivia Smith exhibiting some neat footwork coming inside off the right flank and winning her side a corner.
Hobinger sends it into bodies the box again to prompt halfhearted Liverpool appeals for a handball. No penalty given.
13 mins: Liverpool have themselves a set-piece and an opportunity to lift the ball into the Arsenal box, Hobinger’s delivery finds its way though bodies but Fox is there to mop up.
11 mins: By the way, it’s a cracking initiative from the powers-that-be to make these Women’s FA Cup games available to watch live and for free on YouTube. More exposure = a good thing.
10 mins: Maybe it’s the warm weather – shirt-sleeve stuff in the south of England today – but the tempo has been reasonably pedestrian thus far. Liverpool aren’t exactly pressing high, so Arsenal have had time on the ball for the most part.
7 mins: Liverpool look to counterattack with pace but Williamson deals with it decisively. It means Arsenal can stay on top.
6 mins: Arsenal continue to move the ball swiftly, with Emily Fox marauding forward from right-back and Katie McCabe doing the same down the left.
Marie Hobinger has looked good for Liverpool so far, dropping between the lines to make herself an option for the out-ball.
4 mins: Arsenal’s two centre-backs and deepest-lying midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross are seeing plenty of the ball in these early stages. We’ve not yet had a chance.
2 mins: There’s always a good amount of noise at these Arsenal home games and today is no different. It’s an expectant home support, as Foord makes inroads down the left but Liverpool get back into position.
KICK OFF
Here we go then, as the whistle from referee Stacey Pearson gets us going at a sun-soaked Meadow Park.
It’s all over at the Joie Stadium where Manchester City have seen off the challenge of Aston Villa. With Chelsea v Crystal Palace getting under way at 2.30pm as well, we’ll know all four semi-finalists in a couple of hour’s time – and then we’ll get the draw.
It would be something of a surprise if it wasn’t United, City, Arsenal and Chelsea – the runaway top four in the WSL – who comprised the lineup.
Here’s another good women’s football read for you to delve into as we await kick-off at Meadow Park.
In terms of today’s teams, the fact Arsenal can put Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord and Katie McCabe all on the pitch at the same time shows what a formidable attacking force they are. With Stina Blackstenius and Victoria Pelova among the substitutes, they have no shortage of depth either.
Sophie Haug is Liverpool’s main threat up front, but you suspect she’ll be feeding largely off scraps, unless the ever-reliable Ceri Holland can help the visitors gain a foothold in midfield. We shall see.
Our other live football offering right now comes from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Tim de Lisle is your man for minute-by-minute updates.
City have no doubled their lead through Jess Park and look set to book their spot in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals. City, who lost out to Tottenham in the last four in 2024 will be gunning to go all the way this time. What price an all-Manchester final?
Bunny Shaw has given Manchester City the lead against Aston Villa.
Amber Whiteley expects to be in charge of Liverpool until the end of the season, but is targeting an even longer stint in the job. It’s been an underwhelming campaign on Merseyside – they’ve lost more than they’ve won in the league, sitting sixth – but today represents a huge game; some silverware could save Liverpool’s season.
It’s definitely a role I’m interested in and will put in for. But that recruitment process goes to one side and I have to focus on the day-to-day.
From my interim period previously, the biggest thing I took away was that I was capable of doing the job. I am in a far better position having had the time with Matt [Beard] and working under him.
When these opportunities come about, you have to stand up and show exactly what you are capable of. It’s really important to do that as a female coach too.
“As players we’re really grateful to be a part of setting the new normal for women’s football, whether that be with the games in the stadium or through the culture around the fans within it. We try to make sure that everyone knows football is for them and it’s a place for everyone.”
Arsenal and England star Alessia Russo chats to Suzanne Wrack.
Preamble
It’s a big day in the Women’s FA Cup with three quarter-finals taking place, after Manchester United booked their spot in the last four by beating Sunderland on Saturday. United, of course, are the competition’s holders and one of the favourites to win it again given their excellent recent form.
Manchester City are currently taking on Aston Villa but our focus will be on this crunch tie between Arsenal and Liverpool at Meadow Park. The Gunners are record 14-time winners of the Cup but haven’t prevailed since 2016; since then it’s been dominated by the Manchester clubs and Chelsea. Liverpool have never lifted the Women’s FA Cup and haven’t even contested a final since the 1990s.
The Reds will be under the stewardship of interim manager Amber Whiteley, who took over from Matt Beard following his recent sacking. She’s going up against Renée Slegers of course, who herself took over mid-season at Arsenal after the sacking of a male head coach.
Can the visitors upset Arsenal today? We shall find out together, with kick-off at 2.30pm (UK time).