Alex Scott has urged Arsenal Ladies to focus on this weekend’s Continental Cup tie against Notts County after their title prospects took a severe knock.

Former Arsenal player Caroline Weir netted a late free-kick on Sunday to secure a 2-1 win for Liverpool over her old club and leave them six points behind Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City Women.

It was the Gunners’ first defeat in any competition since April and their hopes of winning the championship now look exceedingly remote.

But a successful defence of the Continental Cup they won last season remains a realistic target as they prepare to take on Notts County in the quarter-final on Friday at The Hive, Barnet, kick-off 7pm.

Right-back Scott said: “It’s disappointing to lose our unbeaten run because we’ve been working so hard. I think we played really well in patches but we got undone by a set-piece.

“We know Caroline’s quality in that area so it’s a hard one to take, especially after our second half performance where we went for the game and we had chances.

“At this level it’s about being clinical and finishing off our chances.

“Now we need to get our heads up, pick ourselves up and go again – we’ve got another game on Friday.

“We’re still in another competition, there’s still silverware to be won and that’s the attitude we’ll need to pick these players up.”

The Gunners seemed set to continue their recent winning run after ex-Liverpool midfielder Fara Williams fired them into a ninth-minute lead with a shot that looped off Reds player Gemma Bonner and into the net.

Shanice Van de Sanden put the visitors level just before the half-hour mark, hitting an angled finish that left goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal motionless.

The Arsenal keeper denied Van de Senden a second goal after the break with a superb point-blank save, while Gunners midfielder Jordan Nobbs went close at the other end.

But it was Weir who settled the match with 14 minutes left, unleashing a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner to clinch Liverpool’s victory.