FA Women's Cup: Bonner seeks Liverpool improvement
Last updated on .From the section Football
Liverpool Ladies captain Gemma Bonner believes the Reds' still have room for improvement before they can be considered the finished article.
The overhauled team narrowly beat Sunderland 2-1 to advance to the FA Women's Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
The club signed 12 new players over the winter in an attempt to change their fortunes from FA Women's Super League strugglers to title contenders.
"I think we've a long way to go yet," Bonner, 21, told BBC Sport.
"Against Sunderland we weren't at our best, but we've come away with the result. We need to push on and improve to get the best out of us."
Since the start of the summer season Liverpool have played three matches, beating Aston Villa 5-0 in the FA Cup fifth round and drawing 1-1 with rivals Everton in the opening group game of the Continental Cup, along with the victory over Sunderland.
They struggled on Sunday against a side who play in the National Premier Division, a league below the Reds, and could have lost the game in the second half.
Katrin Omarsdottir scored the winner with three minutes to go and Reds skipper Bonner believes her team prepared for the game in the right way.
"I don't think we approached the game any different," Bonner continued. "Sunderland are a great side and are used to winning games.
"So all credit to them, they gave us a test. We needed to stand up and be counted and we stuck at it and we came away with the result."
Liverpool's marquee close-season signing, England midfielder Fara Williams, admits her team could not find their feet in the north east but says they are on the right track.
"In the game against Sunderland we should have been 3-0 or 4-0 up at half time and it nearly cost us in the end," said the 29-year-old. "If you look at periods of play and patches of play in the game - we're certainly coming together."
Liverpool will play either Arsenal or Birmingham in the semi-finals, which are due to be played on the 28 April.
The 2013 FA Women's Cup final will take place at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, 26 May and is live on BBC Two.
The BBC is showing the FAWSL for the first time this season, with four highlights programmes, as well as live coverage coverage of Euro 2013 this summer. The BBC Sport website will also keep you up-to-date with all the latest news and scores.
