Preview: Everton v United Women

Casey Stoney’s Reds will look to build on a strong performance in our 2-0 win over Birmingham City Ladies when we take on the Toffees in the WSL. Last weekend, Leah Galton and Ella Toone scored the goals as we remained among the top teams in the league, level on points with leaders Chelsea.

As we make the short trip to Walton Hall Park for another important league fixture, here is all you need to know…

The battle on Merseyside will be broadcast on BT Sport in the UK, with kick-off on Sunday set for 14:30 GMT. The full match will be shown on MUTV from 16:30.

As mentioned, the Reds find themselves level on points with league leaders Chelsea, indicating how impressively Stoney’s team have performed this season. Prior to the defeat against the Blues after the WSL restart, United had gone ten matches unbeaten, winning eight. Now, after the win against Birmingham last time out, we will aim to build another streak of victories.

Everton are fifth in the WSL table and come into the fixture against United on the back of an emphatic 4-0 win over Bristol City last weekend. However, prior to that triumph, the Toffees had not won a league fixture since October. In the five matches leading up to the Bristol game, they had lost three times and drawn two.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The sides have already met this season, in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup  before Christmas, when it finished 1-0 to the hosts at Walton Hall Park. That is also the only time Everton have beaten the Reds.

In the four encounters prior to that one, Stoney’s women have been victorious on each occasion. Back in December 2018, we won 3-0 in what was the start of a trend, as United have scored three goals in all of our triumphs against the Merseyside outfit. That was also the case in our last WSL win against the Toffees, a dramatic 3-2 win on the road, in February 2020. Like last weekend, it was Leah Galton (2) and Ella Toone who found the net for the Reds that time out.

TEAM NEWS

Tobin Heath was not involved against Birmingham last weekend and will be out of action for an extended period. Lucy Staniforth and young attacker Alessia Russo remain unavailable as they continue their recovery from injury. Norwegian international Maria Thorisdottir, our new signing from Chelsea, might make her first United appearance after being part of the matchday squad last time out. 

As for Everton, their boss Willie Kirk might also have a fresh face in his line-up. Sunday's home side signed West Ham United forward Alisha Lehmann on loan until the end of the season.

WHO ELSE IS IN ACTION?

There are four other matches in the WSL this weekend, including a London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham. Here is the weekend’s schedule…

SATURDAY 30 JANUARY

Bristol City v Brighton & Hove Albion (14:00 GMT)

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (12:30 GMT)

Manchester City v West Ham United (14:00 GMT)

Everton v UNITED (14:30 GMT)