Matildas Abroad Preview: Conti Cup quarter-finals begins

The Conti Cup quarter-finals kick off in England, with Chelsea and Arsenal playing their first game of the 2023 tournament. 

See where all our Matildas Abroad will be in action in our preview! All games can be seen live and free on the FA Player.  

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In Bristol, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy's Manchester City will take on Championship side Bristol City, with the reigning Conti Cup champions, Manchester, aiming to book their spot in the next round and extend their unbeaten streak.

Manchester booked their spot in the last eight of the competition after finishing first in Group B standings, recording four wins in four games. 

Hayley Haso (R) of Manchester City Women celebrate with team mate Mary Fowler after scoring their team's 2nd goal during the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup match between Manchester City Women and Sunderland Ladies at Manchester City Academy Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Hayley Haso of Manchester City Women celebrates with Mary Fowler after scoring their team's 2nd goal during the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup match between Manchester City Women and Sunderland Ladies at Manchester City Academy Stadium on November 27, 2022, in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Fowler and Raso both found the back of the net in City's run to the quarter-finals, with Manchester not conceding a goal in the group stage and scoring a dozen goals.

This game will kick off on Thursday morning at 6:00 am AEDT, watch live and free on the FA Player

Meanwhile, Mackenzie Arnold's West Ham United take on Liverpool in their quarter-final fixture, with the Hammers advancing to the next stage after finishing at the top of Group C standings.

The two sides met late last year in the WSL, with Liverpool recording just their second win of the season with a 2-0 victory. Ceri Holland and Katie Stengel both found the back of the net to give the Reds the win. 


Liverpool booked their spot in the quarter-finals after finishing second in their group, facing defeat against Manchester City. This game will kick off on Thursday morning at 6:30 am AEDT, watch live and free on the FA Player

Elsewhere, Sam Kerr's Chelsea will enter the Conti Cup at the quarter-final stage having been exempt from the group stage due to their UWCL participation.

Chelsea will take on Kyah Simon's Spurs, with the Blues aiming to reclaim the trophy after being beaten in last season's Conti Cup final by Manchester City.

Chelsea's Australian forward Sam Kerr (C0 celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Women's League Cup Final football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Wimbledon, south London London on March 5, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Sam Kerr celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Women's League Cup Final football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Wimbledon, south London London on March 5, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

A pitch inspection is taking place at Brisbane Road overnight to see if the game can go ahead, with fears more frozen pitches could see the postponement of more games. 

This game will kick off on Thursday morning at 6:45 am AEDT, watch live and free on the FA Player

Lastly, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord's Arsenal will also make their first appearance in this season's competition, hosting Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa. 

The Gunners will be looking to make their return to the Conti Cup final, after being knocked out by Manchester United in the quarter-finals stage of last season's edition. 

Caitlin Foord of Arsenal in actio during the FA Women's Super League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on December 11, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
Caitlin Foord of Arsenal in action during the FA Women's Super League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on December 11, 2022, in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

Gielnik's Aston Villa booked their spot in the last eight after finishing first in their group with nine points, recording two wins and two draws. 

A pitch inspection will be conducted to confirm this fixture can go ahead. 

This game will kick off on Friday morning at 6:45 am AEDT, watch live and free on the FA Player