WSL preview: United v Everton

While the gap to Arsenal in the third and final Champions League spot is realistically insurmountable – there would have to be a goal-difference swing of 26 – Casey Stoney’s side are looking to finish a positive campaign on a high, with victory.

Only top two Chelsea and Manchester City, plus Reading, have escaped from Leigh with points this term and the Reds’ strong home form has provided us with a platform to challenge in the upper echelons of the league right up until the final game.

Here’s everything you need to know as we look to bow out with victory…

WHERE TO WATCH

The game, which kicks off at 14:30 BST, will be streamed live on the FA Player in the UK and will be available to watch in full on MUTV from 16:30 BST on Sunday. Stay tuned to our official Twitter account @ManUtdWomen for live updates.

TEAM NEWS

Ivana Fuso and Tobin Heath are long-term absentees for United, who have been boosted by the return of Leah Galton to the first-team reckoning in recent weeks and she is in line for a comeback at the weekend after two months out.

“We’re looking OK,” Stoney told club media. “Obviously Leah is back available as well, that’s a positive. She trained today so it’s really good to have her back. We’re pretty much where we were last week.”

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

This will be our seventh meeting in all competitions with the Toffees, since our reformation in 2018. Five of the previous six games between the sides have gone United’s way, including all three of the league fixtures – the Reds ran out 2-0 winners at Walton Hall Park in January, courtesy of goals from Ella Toone and Christen Press. Willie Kirk’s side, however, beat us 1-0 in this season’s League Cup, which ensured United were knocked out of the competition at the group stage.

FORM GUIDE

Although damaging defeats to Reading and Brighton will ultimately prevent United from overhauling the Gunners in third, our form against the sides below us in the table this season has generally been good. West Ham, Tottenham and Bristol City have all been beaten in recent weeks and the six points dropped in those reverses to the Royals and the Seagulls are the only joy anyone other than the top three have had against Stoney’s side this term.

Everton, who sit fifth but are 12 points adrift of United, have had a mixed campaign. The Toffees flew out of the blocks, taking maximum points from their first four games, but a poor winter for the beaten FA Cup finalists saw them win just one of their next nine, amid a spate of weather and COVID-related postponements. Things have picked up a little from February onwards, with recent wins over Brighton and Aston Villa helping to secure the club’s highest finish since 2013.

ONE TO WATCH

Former Manchester City and Lyon midfielder Izzy Christiansen is the Toffees’ top scorer this season, with seven goals in 25 appearances. A virtual-ever present in the Everton side, the 31-cap England international ranks fourth in the league for key passes and sixth for shot-creating actions. No player outside of the top three can beat her 12 goal involvements for the season and it’s perhaps no surprise to see why she has been nominated for the WSL Player of the Season award.

WHO ELSE IS IN ACTION?

All games on the final weekend kick off at 14:30 BST on Sunday 9 May:

Arsenal v Aston Villa
Birmingham v Tottenham
Brighton v Bristol City
Chelsea v Reading
UNITED v Everton
West Ham v Manchester City