Skinner: Let's put on a show at Everton

The Barclays WSL encounter kicks off at 12:00 BST and marks a return to domestic action after the successful start to our UEFA Champions League league-phase campaign in midweek, with the 1-0 victory over Valerenga.

Skinner held a press conference to preview a first trip to the Bramley-Moore Dock site but was keen to stress it is also a maiden outing for the hosts in that venue.

With his side playing well this term, there is an excitement to see if our form can be maintained in this latest test.

"Maybe for Everton as well," our manager replied, when asked about the challenges and expectations when appearing at the new stadium. "Maybe they're feeling it for the first time too. There is always pressure when you go to a home game.

"If we can balance that pressure for them as well and understand that, we can play well and it will be tough, hopefully, for the them.

"I've never played at Goodison either, a historic ground too, so potentially next year. From my perspective, it'd be good to put on a show for the fans in what is meant to be an incredible stadium.

"I'm looking forward to playing there, I know the players are too, but only if we put on a performance and win as well."

"I think it's honestly different in each ground that you play at," Skinner said about the novel surroundings on Sunday. "It depends on the number of fans, it depends on the set-up, it depends on the fan-level noise, loads of little different things do impact.

"I would say you can rewind three or four years ago and we started to play those games and they felt different. Maybe it felt a little bit too big but to experience things like playing at Wembley and all of those things has settled us. There's an understanding it's just a pitch in a nice stadium surrounding so hopefully it has a galvanising factor for us.

"I'm sure it will do for Everton too. It looks like an incredible stadium. We're looking forward to gracing it with the quality it deserves to have on it.

"There are all different main factors, whether the crowd noise echoes around, the different acoustics in the ground, but we strip it right back to the pitch and 11 players and our team to remove those psychological situations and then you can play football."

In terms of team news, Leah Galton is still on course to return to the matchday squad, while Celin Bizet Donnum is being assessed after missing the Valerenga clash.

"It's the first day back in, we gave them the day off yesterday as it was a late-night game," Skinner added.

"I believe we're checking in on Celin and that only then leaves Millie [Turner]. Leah trains today and tomorrow, with a view to being in the squad for Sunday. Everybody else came through without any injuries. We're just checking on Celin, Millie is obviously out but everyone else should potentially be available."