Natasha Dowie admits Liverpool are determined to go as far as possible in this season’s UEFA Women's Champions League after falling at the first hurdle last year.
Dowie has been one of few bright lights in an otherwise dark campaign for Liverpool in the 2015 FA Women’s Super League with BT Sport.
The 2013 and 2014 FA WSL 1 champions have flattered to deceive and finished the season in seventh place, but if it was not for the form of Dowie in front of goal the Reds could have been looking at potential relegation.
Brescia v Liverpool
UEFA Women's Champions League
Round of 32
7.45pm, 7 October 2015
Mario Rigamonti, Brescia
The striker has managed an impressive 14 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions and will be looking to take her form into the Champions League, in particular the round of 32 clash away to Italian side Brescia on Wednesday.
Liverpool are competing in the Champions League for only the second time in their history and after losing a two-legged tie against Linköping at this stage last term, Dowie is desperate to put the record straight.
“It’s a beautiful place to go and this year we have got targets to progress further than we did last year,” said Dowie. “Hopefully we can have a good run, but how far we go can come down to the luck of the draw.
Liverpool Ladies won the FA WSL in 2014
“We want to be playing against the best teams in the world for as long as possible. We had to work very hard to get into the Champions League so we don’t want to go out straight away.”
Brescia will be hoping to right a few wrongs themselves after being humiliated 14-0 on aggregate by Lyon last season in the round of 32.
The Italians pose the threat of the unknown for Dowie but the striker is taking a philosophical approach to the game at the Mario Rigamonti Stadio.
“The club are proud to be involved and it is up to us to do the badge proud with our performances”
Natasha Dowie Liverpool Ladies
“The schedule of the competition is demanding, but we are so excited to be playing in it,” added Dowie, the niece of former Northern Ireland strike Iain.
“I don’t know anything about Brescia, but it’s great to be playing against someone unfamiliar. It’s a new challenge and a chance to get the Liverpool name out there.
"The club are proud to be involved and it is up to us to do the badge proud with our performances.”
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