Preview: United Women v Everton
Manchester United Women are back in Women’s Super League action this weekend when we take on Everton at home.
But Everton could provide a tough test for Marc Skinner’s team, with Brian Sorensen’s side winning their last three league outings.
Ahead of the Toffees’ visit to Leigh Sports Village, here’s everything you need to know…
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW
United’s WSL clash against Everton is scheduled for a 12:00 GMT kick-off at LSV, and the game will be shown live in the UK and Ireland on MUTV, ManUtd.com and the United App.
We will also provide fans with updates in the app, as well as via our designated Twitter account, @ManUtdWomen. A match report and image gallery will follow shortly after the full-time whistle.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Sunday’s visit from Everton will mark the third time we’ve played Brian Sorensen’s side this season, the second on home turf.
The first time we faced the Toffees in the current campaign was at the end of October last year, when Skinner’s side earned a 3-0 win. Goals from Nikita Parris, Leah Galton and Hayley Ladd were enough to secure the three points, with a resolute performance at the back earning what was a fifth consecutive clean sheet at the time.
Everton’s first visit to LSV this season, and our second meeting with them, came in the Continental Cup with United in need of a win. We were four goals to the good inside 30 minutes, with a brace from Vilde Boe Risa and strikes from Rachel Williams and Jade Moore. Jess Park and Karen Holmgaard netted for the visitors in our eventual 4-2 victory – although our Conti Cup journey subsequently came to an end in spite of the result.
Fans could be in store for the long awaited return of Leah Galton this weekend, who is yet to feature for the Reds in 2023. Skinner expects her to be involved after an injury problem has kept her sidelined since the turn of the new year.
New signing Estelle Cascarino could also feature for the Reds, having been awarded her first minutes in our 2-1 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup last weekend. Fellow recruits Jayde Riviere and Lisa Naalsund have been training together as they aim to be playing by March.
As for our visitors, they will be without goalkeeper Emily Ramsey due to being permitted from playing against her parent club while on loan. The Toffees have had a handful of players return from injury over the last few weeks, including Megan Finnigan and Nicole Sorensen to give them even more confidence heading into this fixture.
United come into the game top of the league, albeit only on goal difference as we are level on points with Chelsea having played the same number of games.
Skinner’s side are unbeaten in the league since early November, when we were defeated at home by Chelsea. It remains the only game we’ve lost at LSV in the WSL, though, as we have won six of the seven matches we’ve played in front of home fans. Since returning to action in the new year, the Reds have beaten Liverpool 6-0 and earned three points against Reading thanks to late Rachel Williams heroics.
While United progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup, Everton come into this game having been eliminated by Championship side Birmingham City, falling to a 1-0 defeat.
But despite that disappointment, their league form of late tells a different story as they head to LSV with momentum on their side. Sorensen’s side have earned maximum points in their last three games. Consecutive victories saw them climb the table and they are now sitting in fifth, five points behind Manchester City. Their win tally during the current campaign now stands at six from 11, with five defeats.
Highlights: Sunderland v United Women
Watch the key moments from United's Vitality Women's FA Cup match away to Sunderland...
There’ll be a keen eye on other fixtures around the league, especially those that impact the top of the table…
SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY
Leicester City v Manchester City (11:30 GMT)
Aston Villa v Brighton (12:30 GMT)
SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY
UNITED v Everton (12:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)
Reading v Liverpool (14:00 GMT)
West Ham United v Arsenal (18:45 GMT)