EXCLUSIVE: Siobhan Chamberlain and Gemma Bonner ready for Liverpool’s next FA Cup clash after Merseyside derby heroics

It was 120 minutes of hard work for Liverpool Ladies against local rivals Everton in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday, but they’re already focused on their next match.

Captain Gemma Bonner and goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain (Pictured above) were present at the draw for the sixth round, conducted by two local schoolgirls, and saw themselves drawn at home against Notts County.

“We were hoping to be drawn at home,” Chamberlain admitted exclusively to SHOOT!.

“We spoke to the girls beforehand and we said we wanted a home match, obviously they had no control over that, but we did get it!”

“We’re pleased with that home tie,” confirmed Bonner.

“But there are no easy games now.”

Confirmation of the #SSEWomensFACup sixth round draw as holders @ArsenalLadies head to @BCLFC: https://t.co/WH8PTchl48

— SSE Women’s FA Cup (@WomensFACup) March 20, 2017

Certainly their fifth-round clash wasn’t straightforward, going to extra-time after Simone Magill cancelled out Natasha Harding’s opener before Shanice van de Sanden scored the winner. Alex Greenwood, returning from injury, played the entire game, and her captain was delighted.

“That epitomises the character of our team,” she said.

“We came away with the result we needed, and Everton were up for it just as much as we were.”

“Now we know we can perform for 120 minutes, 90 minutes seems a bit easier,” added Chamberlain, pointing out that this was The Reds’ first competitive fixture of the year.

At Holly Lodge Girls School for the @WomensFACup Draw with @LFCladies duo @gembon23 & @Sio_Chamberlain #LFC pic.twitter.com/TU2w6BhZTk

— Liverpool Ladies FC (@LFCladies) March 20, 2017

They’re expecting a tough challenge from Notts County in the next round.

“They always seem to be entertaining games [against Notts County], so that’ll be good for the neutral,” said Bonner, before laughing, “But obviously we’d prefer a 1-0 win!”

And they’re not thinking about the prospect of playing at Wembley, where the final will be held in May.

“We’re making sure we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” said Chamberlain.

“We’re focused on Notts County.”

Draw for the sixth round of the SSE Women’s FA Cup:

Birmingham City Ladies v Arsenal Ladies
Chelsea Ladies v Sunderland Ladies
Bristol City Women v Manchester City Women
Liverpool Ladies v Notts County Ladies

Ties to be played on Sunday, March 26.