Our Gunners suffered a tough defeat to Liverpool in the Adobe Women's FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday afternoon
A second-half goal from Sophie Roman Haug was enough to see the Reds through to the semi-final of the competition after a frustrating battle
### WHAT HAPPENED
Renée Slegers made three changes to the starting XI who saw off West Ham last weekend in dramatic circumstances, with Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross stepping in.
Under the interim leadership of Amber Whiteley, the opposition set up as a back five and looked to hit on the counter, with Canadian winger Olivia Smith looking especially bright.
It was a frustrating first 45 minutes, characterised by physical battles all across the pitch and disjointed attacking phases from both sides. Unlike our usual free-flowing football, our rhythm was stifled and we created very few chances to test Rachael Laws in the Liverpool goal.
In perhaps the only real chance of the half, a rare error from Daphne van Domselaar gifted Sophie Roman Haug a free pop at goal in the area but our keeper was comfortably equal to her eventual shot.
Frida Maanum entered the fray after half-time, coming on for Beth Mead. Our Norwegian's directness made an immediate impact, linking up well with Caitlin Foord on the right flank.
A noticeable energy shift at the start of the second half led to more promising attacks from our Gunners but as the game opened up, the visitors also upped their levels.
When our backline failed to clear the danger, the ball fell to Marie Hobinger at the edge of the area whose fizzing strike goalwards was denied by a diving stop from van Domselaar.
A few minutes later at the other end, an effort from Steph Catley from the second phase of a corner has Laws beaten but bobbled just wide of the target.
But the visitors’ spirited performance was eventually rewarded when Hobinger lifted the ball over to Roman Haug in the area. The Norwegian struck and despite van Domselaar’s best attempts to keep it out, the effort snuck in at the post.
### WHAT'S NEXT
We travel up to Merseyside on Friday evening to face Liverpool's local rivals, Everton, in the Barclays Women's Super League.
Our Gunners will have a second chance against Liverpool when we host them at Emirates Stadium on March 22.
### TEAM NEWS
**Arsenal starting XI:** van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Mead (Maanum, 46), Little (C) (Blackstenius, 82), McCabe, Foord (Ilestedt, 88), Russo, Cooney-Cross (Walti, 82)
**Subs:** Zinsberger, Reid, Nighswonger, Pelova, Kafaji
**Liverpool starting XI:** Laws, Hinds (C), Bonner, Fisk, Matthews (Evans, 62), Kapocs, Kerr, Holland, Hobinger, Roman Haug, Smith
**Subs:** Micah, Nagano, Enderby, Clark, Bartel, Daniels, Bernabe, Shaw
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