“We’re All Excited!” – Gareth Taylor, Zara Shaw, Beata Olsson & Denise O’Sullivan Preview FA Cup Semi-Final | OneFootball

Liverpool Women recently confirmed their WSL status for 26/27 under Gareth Taylor after a difficult season on and off the pitch for The Reds that only saw an upturn in form following the turn of the year and a positive January transfer window. 

Despite the struggles in the league, Taylor’s side have progressed nicely through the FA Cup and finds themselves in the semi-finals, with only Brighton standing between them and a trip to Wembley for a showpiece final. 

Liverpool will face their south coast opponents this Sunday at their St Helens home, looking to overcome the Seagulls for the first time this season, having drawn both matches in the league. 

Before the match, we headed to the Melwood Training Ground and caught up with a few of the stars and Taylor himself…

Gareth Taylor…

On the semi-final: “I think it’s something that’s probably been on the players’ minds for a little while now, as soon as the draw was made. We really wanted a home tie, and that was all we could ask for. Our supporters have been exceptional this season. We’ve really used St Helens the majority of the time as a bit of a fortress, and it’s certainly been a key factor in us turning our form around in the second half of the season.”

On the importance of the FA Cup run: “Every competition we go into, we really worked hard in the League Cup, got to the quarter-final. We go into every competition trying to go as far as we possibly can, trying to win it. But as soon as we’ve been in this competition, I’ve said to the players, you’ll be really surprised at how quickly you can progress before you know it in a quarter-final, before you know it in a semi-final. And the opportunity to get to Wembley, which is a dream of most players. I think it’s progress for the club in the sense that we were in a semi-final last season. We just want to make that next step now.”

On the quarter final hero Zara Shaw: “It was brilliant and a great story for Zara because someone who’s worked so hard. She’s a fantastic girl to work with, really, really coachable, really mature for her age. I think the feeling of the group was just one of joy because they were so happy that she got that moment.”

On facing Brighton: “The games have been tight, like you said. We had the game in the bag at home and conceded in overtime to go 1-1, and away we could have nicked it really late. So, they were finely balanced those games. Two teams that like to have the ball. They’re probably a little bit ahead of us in a sense, certainly in their position in the table, but also in their evolution of working with Dario. He’s had a good time there with the group to get them to where they are now, and you can see more recently that they’ve been impressive with the results they’ve picked up. So, we know the challenge is in front of us, it’s a tough one, but I believe on our day, if we can bring the right attitude and the right mentality. Of course, in most games, you need things to go your way in certain moments, but yeah, really excited about the game.”

On penalty practice: “We always practice in the build-up, in the cup competitions, because you have to. I think it’s normal to do that. I was fairly calm at that time because we had Jen Falk, who’s very good in goal and very good at penalties. So, yeah, of course, you don’t want that moment to happen, and it was really nice for Zara to score the goal, but yeah, of course, we always prepare for those things.”

On the home factor: “Our supporters have been with us on this journey from the start of the season and they’ve endured the tough moments on and off the pitch that we’ve suffered with and there have been some really, really challenging things for us to deal with as a football club, but the behaviour of our supporters, the behaviour of our people at the club has been exceptional and we really feel together with the fans and yeah, I would suggest that come and enjoy girls, giving it their all, trying their very best to get to Wembley and then potentially we could hopefully look forward to another trip down to London.”

Liverpool FC Women: Taylor, Shaw, Olsson & O’Sullivan Preview Huge FA Cup Semi-Final Showdown

Zara Shaw…

On the Charlton winner: “It was definitely a bit of a blur, but it was a really, really special day. One I’ll never forget, and we’ve got a semi-final now to play in, so it was great. It’s still a bit surreal.”

On the excitement ahead of Sunday: “I think the mood is really positive, especially after the game on the weekend. Of course, the result didn’t go our way, but I think the performance was really positive from the girls, and there’s a lot we can take from that game going into Brighton. Preparation-wise, we always try to prepare every week the same way. Obviously, it changes depending on the opponent, but we know what we need to do ultimately and yeah, we’re all excited.”

On the prospect of penalties: “If I’m needed, of course, I will take one. But hopefully it won’t get to that point.”

On reaching the final as an academy graduate: “It’d be honestly unbelievable. Again, like things you dream of as a kid, getting to the FA Cup final. And I’ve been here since I was a baby, really, seven. So yeah, coming all the way through the academy and now being involved with the first team and to get to an FA Cup semi-final, final, sorry, would be special.”

On the crowd: “I think we know how special our fans are anyway, but games like this, I think they always probably want to be there as much as we need them. So I think, yeah, they’ll definitely be a 12th man for us on the weekend. I’d definitely say get down. It’ll be a great day, hopefully.”

Denise O’Sullivan

On the semi-final: “Massively looking forward to it now. I think the feeling I get around here at Melwood with the club, with the staff, the players, it’s just an overall excitement to be part of it. I think it’s a massive game and a massive opportunity to get some silverware. So I think this club deserves to be there. I think the team has progressed a lot in the second half of the season. And, you know, we’re really excited for the game. We’ll go out there and give everything we can to get to the final.”

On passing her experience onto a young squad: “As you said, I have a lot of caps for my country. I’ve played in a lot of big games, cup finals, World Cup. So I think whatever way I can contribute, that experience is important for the team. And whatever role I’m given on Sunday, I’ll go out there and give 100%. But yeah, I think it’s important to be able to be a leader and keep myself focused, keep the team focused and just ready to go out and perform on Sunday.”

On the message from Gareth Taylor: “I think the message is, you know, just for us to be focused. And, you know, we showed the mentality that we can bring to games against Man City at the weekend. You know, going toe-to-toe with a world-class team. I think, you know, we have to stay focused, and Brighton are a very good opposition. They’ve been on a good run. So we know their strengths. We know what they can do as a team. But I think it’s important to focus on ourselves. And we’ve shown what we can do throughout the second half of the season as well. So I think we’re all excited and focused for it.”

On what reaching the final would mean: “It’d be amazing. It’s a really big cup. I think Liverpool is a club that deserves to be there. We want to be, you know, lifting trophies. So for me, it’s very important this game on Sunday to be able to go out there and get the job done. But it will be really special to get to Wembley. I personally have never played in Wembley, and it would be a dream come true to do that with this club.”

On the fans: “The fans are the most important part of all of this. I think they deserve to get to a final. So they’ve supported us the whole way throughout this season, through the lows and through the highs. So come out on Sunday and be loud and proud like you have been and we’ll give 100% on the pitch to try and get over the line.”

Beata Olsson…

On her brilliant first season: “I think it’s hard to look back at right now because I’m still in it, I think. But looking back at the season, I hope I can think it’s been a good year. I’ve loved it. It’s a great place to be.”

On the chance to get to Wembley: “It’s massive. I think you know about the FA Cup everywhere and you just know how big a competition it is and playing at Wembley would be insane. Any football player knows that. So I think that I’ve looked forward to it for a long time and getting to play the game now on Sunday is going to be big.”

On potentially being a match winner: “I always want to make an impact, but I know we have so many competent players and everyone’s so skilful and right now our training sessions are super sharp. So I see a lot of people who can make that difference. Obviously, if I’m at the top of the pitch, maybe I’m more likely to, so we will see.”

On playing at Anfield next weekend: “Yeah, that’s a good game as well. So I think already knowing going into the season that we had Anfield here, 16th of May, that was a fun thing. But now we also have the Brighton game, hopefully Wembley. So it’s a great end of the season, I would say.”

On the home advantage: “They’ve been a massive help. And if they come down on Sunday and the weekend after, we know that it’s going to make a big difference for us. Any type of support we get just brings more energy, and we play better.”

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