Brian Sorensen has spoken of Everton Women’s bright future ahead of Sunday’s clash with high-flying Manchester United but believes the team has to be realistic about the weekend’s fixture due to the quality
of opposition.
The Dane has promised that the Blues will give absolutely everything in order to get a result and plans to put on a show as his team line up at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the very first time.
The Toffees will be boosted by the return of French forward Kelly Gago, but Sorensen has confirmed that Katja Snoeijs will be out until after the international break with a hamstring strain.
Club captain Megan Finnigan is also set to undergo surgery in order to aid her recovery from long-term injury, having not featured since January this year.
Speaking of the weekend’s game, Sorensen feels that his young team is still learning every day but envisages a bright future, and one where he hopes many fans will be present to enjoy.
“We are still working on the details of the game,” he said. “We have started the youngest XI in the league. We play with good, young talents and it is about learning every day.
“I am positive about the future, the future looks bright.
“Hopefully, they [fans] will come back to Goodison to watch us play.
“Our plan is to put on a good show and make it an exciting game.
“We are realistic and we know it is going to be a tough game, but we will give everything.”
The Opposition
One of only two unbeaten teams in the WSL so far and the only side to have taken a point off Chelsea, Marc Skinner’s side are currently enjoying a run which has seen them claim their first Champions League win of the campaign, while domestically the Red Devils are the division’s best defence, with just two goals conceded in five.
A side full of strength and quality, Everton will have to be wary of a number of key players in the United ranks, including skipper Maya Le Tissier, while forward Melvine Malard is in good scoring form.
Former Blues to look out for will be Gabby George, who made the switch from Merseyside to Manchester in 2023, and Jess Park, a deadline day signing from Manchester City, who enjoyed a loan spell with Everton in 2022.
Red Devils’ stalwart Millie Turner is also an ex-Toffee, having debuted for Everton as a teenager in the 2013/14 season.
Previous Meetings
Three hard-fought meetings last season saw United claim a trio of victories, starting with a 1-0 win at Walton Hall Park courtesy of an early goal from former Toffee Grace Clinton.
February 2023 was the last time Everton claimed a point from their visitors, a battling 0-0 draw on the road, while Simone Magill’s equaliser in November 2021 was the last time the Blues took anything at home against Skinner’s team.
Lucy Hope was still known as Lucy Graham when her strike was enough to claim victory over the Red Devils in December 2020 in the League Cup, something that is long overdue in this one-sided rivalry.
While Sorensen is right about a bright future for his team, the amount of investment by the Friedkin Group will soon have to start producing results, and Sunday would be a perfect time to produce one.
Welsh international and former United star Hayley Ladd will be more motivated than most lining up against her former employers, could her experience be crucial against powerful this opposition as the Blues continue to learn?
Everton Women take on Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, 12 October at 12pm BST (7am ET, 4am PT) and you can get your tickets now.
