Liverpool Women to Face Charlton Athletic in FA Cup Quarter Final

Liverpool Women will take their cup resurgence to London on Sunday, 5 April, after the draw paired them with FA Women’s Super League 2 leaders Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.

The Reds booked their place in the last eight with a 2-1 victory over Merseyside neighbours Everton on Sunday, providing a welcome lift to a side that has spent much of the season looking anxiously over its shoulder at the relegation zone. A recent upturn in league form has edged Matt Beard’s team one point clear of the bottom spot, yet it is the cup competition that has offered the most consistent cause for optimism.

Charlton, currently nine points clear at the top of the second tier, represent a sizeable obstacle. Despite the divisional gap, the Addicks’ commanding position and promotion-chasing momentum ensure the tie is anything but straightforward for the visitors. The match, scheduled for a 2pm kick-off at Charlton’s 27,000-capacity Valley stadium, could serve as a barometer of Liverpool’s progress amid a campaign spent flirting with relegation.

The remaining quarter-final fixtures pit Arsenal against Brighton & Hove Albion, Birmingham City against Manchester City, and Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur.