What would Women's FA Cup success do for Liverpool?

Breaking news from the world of sport: What would Women's FA Cup success do for Liverpool? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Academy graduate Zara Shaw scored a stoppage-time winner in the quarter-finalsByEmma Sanders Sport women’s football news reporterPublished6 minutes agoLiverpool's season has largely not gone to plan, but the Women's Super League side are potentially two wins away from lifting a major trophy. Gareth Taylor's team have a massive opportunity as they take on Brighton in Sunday's Women's FA Cup semi-finals (12:15 BST).

The Reds sit second bottom in the WSL with one game left, having won only four of their 21 league games. Taylor's late appointment in the summer, leading to issues with recruitment following the departure of star players, meant Liverpool had a poor start. All four of their WSL wins have come in the new year, with players arriving in January and boosting their position, pulling them away from relegation danger.

Match Details

It means the Reds are revitalised as they aim to reach a fourth Women's FA Cup final, having lost three successive trophy matches between 1994 and 1996 - the first of those in their previous guise as Knowsley United. Manager Taylor says the club wants to give fans "the reward they deserve" by reaching the final at Wembley. Top scorer Beata Olsson told Sport: "It's an aspiration of the club.

Playing for Liverpool, you always want to get titles. "We've had a tough season in many ways, but this type of ending would be incredible. A lot of people talked about us as performing poorly and that we didn't really have what it takes.

"I can agree with that in parts, but now I don't hear so many people saying that. We really trusted ourselves and this would be a way to prove it even more. "How have they turned it around?

Reactions and Expectations

Liverpool made a dire start to the season by taking just two points from their opening 10 WSL matches. They had sold key player Olivia Smith to Arsenal for a record £1m in the summer and vice-captain Taylor Hinds went in the same direction. By the time manager Taylor was appointed - just four weeks before the start of the season - Liverpool were already behind in their recruitment and scrambled to bring in players, including three signings on deadline day.

Their thin squad was hit by anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries to striker Sophie Roman Haug and playmaker Marie Hobinger. Liverpool also had to deal with tragedy following the sudden deaths of former manager Matt Beard and kit man Jonathan Humble, while men's team forward Diogo Jota died in the summer. "It was difficult in the first part of the season.

There's no doubts we encountered a lot on and off the pitch," Taylor told Sport. "The FA Cup, and how far we've gone, is something that's really inspiring for everyone because you don't always get rewards in football. "Football's not fair, life's not fair - it doesn't work that way.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.