Brian Sorensen feels Everton Women are ready for the start of the new WSL season and has been reflecting on a busy summer of recruitment ahead of the curtain raiser away to Liverpool.
With nine new arrivals and the average age of the squad lowered, the Blues boss feels that his team is in a ‘better situation than in recent seasons, something he has credited the club’s new owners for.
And with the fixture taking place at Everton’s original home of Anfield, a venue that has been a happy hunting ground
for Sorensen, the Dane is relishing the fixture but is not paying too much attention to recent results going in his team’s favour.
“Overall, we feel we are ready – that is the most important thing,” he said. “Hopefully, history repeats itself – that is in our favour.
“We have an okay understanding of what we will face, but there could be new players and constellations within their team.
“It feels good, I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully, there will be a big crowd. We are buzzing and are really looking forward to it. It is a one off game, form goes out of the window.”
The Toffees’ newest signing Ruby Mace is in contention and will be in the squad on Sunday, while Hikaru Kitagawa is working her way back after a hamstring injury. The Japan international is back on the grass and has been training this week by herself.
Sorensen’s other injury concern is veteran defender Elise Stenevik, who is touch and go with a foot problem and likely to miss the Blues’ opener.
Injuries to key players have often hampered progress for Everton during Sorensen’s tenure, but a busy summer of recruitment has eased the burden but feels there is still work to do
“It has been the busiest summer,” he continued. “When I came in three years ago, it was also a big turnover.
In the past years, we have not been able to invest. We have sold our best assets to stay afloat. When the new owners came in, they put a plan in place and said: ‘how do we grow?’
“We have lowered the squad age and got some players in that are of high class. It is not like we have spent a crazy amount of money.
“We are in a better situation than we have been in recent years, but there is still work to do. Busy summer, but we are here now and ready.”
The Opposition
Gareth Taylor has had to hit the ground running after only joining Liverpool last month in a tenure that has already seen a number of new players join the Reds, including the deadline day captures of Alejandra Bernabe, Risa Shimizu, Beata Olsson and Emilia Szymczak
Full-back Bernabe, who has returned to Merseyside from Chelsea after spending the second half of last season on-loan at Liverpool, will miss Sunday due to an existing injury, while Shimizu will be a late call ahead of the fixture.
The Reds also bolstered their the signing of Wales international defender Lily Woodham from Seattle Reign, while the summer has seen a number of established and rising stars pen new deals with the club.
And while a top-four finish may be too much to ask for Taylor’s team, but they will be looking for a strong start when facing Everton, a side Taylor boasts a positive personal record against, having won eight of his previous nine WSL matches in opposition.
Previous Meetings
While Taylor will look to continue his personal record of success against Everton, the Blues will be looking to continue their dominance over their Merseyside rivals in derby games.
Anfield itself has been a very happy venue for Sorensen and the Toffees, who have won each of their last four away games against the Reds in the league, all without conceding.
Katja Snoeijs was the hero of Merseyside last season, becoming the first Everton player since Andrei Kanchelskis to score in the fixture at Goodison Park and Anfield in the same season.
The Netherlands striker fired the Toffees ahead inside ten minutes before Karen Holmgaard added a second midway through the second half following good work from Toni Payne.
Former Blue and twin sister of Karen, Sara, did not enjoy the day quite as much as her identical sibling, collecting her second yellow inside the final ten minutes after upending Olivia Smith.
Red card aside, Sorensen will be hoping for more of the same when his team take to the field for the first time in the 2025/26 season.
Everton Women take on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, 7 November, at 12pm local time (7am ET, 4am PT).
