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“It's up for grabs now...”

To Liverpool FC fans of a certain vintage, those words uttered by the late, great ITV football commentator Brian Moore will doubtless trigger unfortunate memories of that goal in the final few seconds of the 1988-89 season.

It was the moment on that late spring evening when spritely, yellow-shirted Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas scampered through a tiring Liverpool rearguard before flicking the ball beyond helpless keeper Bruce Grobbelaar and into the Anfield Road End net to give Arsenal a crucial second goal and with it the League Championship title.

Painful sporting memories such as this one always leave a scar on those on the wrong end of the result, so you can be certain Liverpool Ladies will not want a repeat of this scenario come 4pm this Sunday afternoon.

After a forgettable 2012 campaign when the side finished at the foot of the FA Women’s Super League winning just once in 14 matches, Liverpool Ladies have completely turned things around to be leading the eight-team division by two points going into the final contest of the 2013 season.

And by a sheer quirk of the fixtures, Liverpool will host the team in second place – Bristol Academy Women – for a ‘winner takes all’ title decider.

Halton’s Select Security Stadium will be the venue for the match which will be televised live by BT Sport, the game kicking-off at 2pm.

A draw or a win for Liverpool and the title is theirs; but should they fail in either pursuit, Bristol will claim the silverware by a single point – it’s that close.

Both sides have enjoyed super campaigns and will make history on Sunday when one of them takes the title from the extraordinary Arsenal Ladies, who have lifted women’s football’s most prestigious piece of domestic silverware for the past nine seasons.

This time around, Liverpool have led from the outset, remaining consistent throughout the season.

Their recent form has been very good and they head into Sunday’s showdown on the back of six successive victories.

With 44 goals scored so far and three of the FAWSL’s leading markswomen in their squad, Liverpool have displayed brilliance on the field and have already been rewarded with a place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Bristol, likewise, have been outstanding throughout the season, faltering in only two games, one of which was a dramatic 4-3 reverse against Liverpool last month.

They made it to the final of the FA Women’s Cup in May and have already been guaranteed a UEFA Women’s Champions League spot.

Liverpool Ladies moved within a point of glory after a 4-2 derby success against Everton Ladies earlier this month.

Prolific striker Natasha Dowie helped herself to a hat-trick with team-mate and skipper, defender Gemma Bonner, claiming the other Reds’ goal.

For their part, Bristol were in danger of not having one last say in the title race as they fell behind to bottom side Doncaster Rovers Belles before fighting back to secure a remarkable 4-3 triumph.

Team hope to Kop support at Halton

ALTHOUGH a draw would be sufficient to bring the FA Women’s Super League title to Liverpool, team manager Matt Beard has only one thing on his mind – all three points.

“We will be going out to win the game,” he said.

“I am not nervous – you can’t be, really.

“You just have to focus on the job in hand.

“And I am confident they can get the job done.”

European football may be on the horizon next season for the team, but for American-born midfielder Amanda Da Costa, 23, the title decider is the only match that matters right now.

“We are focused on this game,” she said.

“Sunday is our goal and we are ready to get a win.”

Twenty-five year-old compatriot, Whitney Engen who plays centre-back, added: “We have developed a strong bond.

“We do fight for each other and it’s been good fun to be part of that. I expected it to be a great season. I knew this was a team that could compete and my expectations have been met.”

One reason for the Ladies’ success this season has been the goalscoring exploits of England international, Natasha Dowie.

The striker, signed from Everton last November, has hit the net 19 times in 20 matches in all competitions for the Ladies.

Da Costa said: “Natasha just gets better and better. But then, we are all getting better.”

Beard also expressed his delight at the support the team has received from Liverpool’s owners.

“We are in this business to win and the investment has been fantastic,” he said.

“It really is a ‘one club’ mentality here.”

Beard said Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had been in touch with him throughout the season showing his full support and wishing the side well. And this ‘one club mentality’ was revealed in the best way possible when the Ladies trained alongside Liverpool’s first-team stars at Melwood.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Da Costa added: “It is good to have some nerves. It is a massive match for our group of players. We want to win every game. It would mean the world to us to have the Liverpool fans joining us. We are looking to bring the Kop to Halton.”

Added Engen: “It has been a brilliant season and I just cannot wait until Sunday.”

TICKETS can be purchased on the gate on the day of the match – £5 for an adult and £2.50 for children and concessions. Children under 16 accompanied by an adult FREE. Liverpool FC season ticket holders can gain entry free of charge on production of their season ticket.