Women’s preview: Everton v United
Manchester United return to Women’s Super League action on Sunday when we become the first visiting side to play at Everton’s new stadium, Walton Hall Park.
After the extreme weather of Storm Ciara forced our home game against Chelsea to be postponed two weeks’ ago, Sunday’s match will be the Reds’ third consecutive away fixture in the WSL.
The two sides are separated by just a single point in the table and United will be hoping to continue our impressive record against the Merseysiders when we again lock horns at the weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game…
Sunday's match will be shown live on the FA Player in the UK, with kick-off taking place at 12:30 GMT. As usual, we’ll be providing updates on our official Twitter account @ManUtdWomen and, after the game, a full match report will be published on ManUtd.com and in our Official App. MUTV will show match highlights on Sunday and they will also be available on the website.
NEW VENUE
Sunday’s clash will be the first to take place at Everton’s new ground of Walton Home Park, after they began the season playing home games at Southport’s Haig Avenue. The venue is not yet fully completed, meaning Sunday’s capacity will be capped at 1,500. Supporters should note there will be no tickets sold at the ground on the day of the fixture; tickets should be purchased in advance from Everton’s website.
FORM GUIDE
The Reds have drawn our last two games 1-1, against Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite this, we have still only suffered one defeat in the last five league games and sit in fifth in the WSL table, one point ahead of our hosts in sixth. Both sides will, no doubt, be hoping to end the season in a top-four position, with United and Everton each having a game in hand over Reading in fourth.
As for the hosts, they have won just once in their last six WSL games, with that solitary victory coming courtesy of last month's 3-1 triumph over Reading at Southport. At home, Willie Kirk’s side have not drawn a single game this season and have lost three of their last five in all competitions.
OUR RECORD AGAINST EVERTON
Sunday’s game will be the fourth meeting between the two sides and United have won all three previous encounters, netting three times in each. Last season, Casey Stoney’s side won 3-0 in the Continental League Cup thanks to goals from Lauren James, Leah Galton and Katie Zelem. The Reds repeated that scoreline earlier this campaign - again in the League Cup - with James and Zelem on the scoresheet again, while Amy Turner popped up with a rare strike. In our only previous WSL meeting, United won 3-1 at Leigh Sports Village last December, with James bagging a brace this time, either side of a Zelem penalty.
ONE TO WATCH
Chloe Kelly’s impressive return of nine WSL goals this season has earned her a recall to Phil Neville’s England squad for the SheBelieves Cup in March, boosting her hopes of adding to the solitary England cap she earned in November 2018. Only Pauline Bremer, Beth England and Vivianne Miedema have scored more goals than the 22-year-old in the league this campaign; the striker bagged a hat-trick against Reading in her side’s last home game.
RIVALS WATCH
All WSL sides apart from Reading and Arsenal are in action this weekend as the latter have an FA Cup replay against Lewes. At the top of the table, leaders Manchester City host second-placed Chelsea in a title race six-pointer; the visitors are just one point behind with a game in hand. Here is the full list of fixtures for this weekend:
SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY
Everton v UNITED (12:30 GMT)
Birmingham City v Bristol City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City v Chelsea
West Ham United v Liverpool (15:00 GMT)
Kick-off times are 14:00 GMT, unless stated otherwise.
Reading this in our app? If not, you might miss some exclusive features not found on ManUtd.com. Download the Official App here.