Brian Sorensen has spoken about the pressure of Goodison Park in his press conference, and insists he will take the blame for Everton Women’s losses.
The Blues pulled off the WSL’s biggest upset so far this season when they ended Chelsea’s 585-game unbeaten streak in the league with a performance built on guts, togetherness and a Honoka Hayashi goal.
And while that result has drew praise from many, the Toffees boss will be acutely aware of the fact that his team are still searching for their first
league win at their historical new home.
Everton will be boosted by the return of full-back Maz Pacheco to the squad, but the visit of Renée Slegers’ team will provide a stern test for the Blues, something Sorensen is confident about, particularly after last week’s performance at Kingsmeadow.
“In the beginning, there was pressure because we really wanted to [win at Goodison Park], said the head coach.
“I said to the girls: ‘when we win it,’ because they are doing amazing and when we lose it is my fault because I haven’t set us up right; to take the pressure off of them.”
“We had to change things around so many times but now It seems like we have a little bit of consistency. That paid off and the girls were excellent. They didn’t want to lose that [Chelsea] game, that’s for sure!
“There’s been a lot of different things of adversity here and there have also been times when we’ve not been good enough on the pitch, of course, but a lot of times where we stick together and get through it.
“If we can do the same against Arsenal, that puts us in a good position. I’m positive going in to the Arsenal game. We know it is going to be a tough game against a good team.
“I am very happy with where we are in terms of staff. The future is bright – maybe even more than it was in August. I can see a lot of positive things. That will reflect on our performance.”
The Opposition
Both Jenna Nighswonger and Laia Codina have been managing minor issues, with the latter a little further ahead in her rehabilitation, but Slegers reported in her press conference that everyone else within the squad should be ‘ok’ for the weekend trip to Merseyside.
Sitting fourth in the WSL with just one defeat in ten, Arsenal boast the league’s second best defence, with just nine conceded, thanks in no small part to the effective central defensive partnership being formed by Lotte Wubben-Moy and Steph Catley.
Going forward, the Gunners have been no less potent, with Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo amongst the top scorers in the WSL.
And with next year bringing four fronts to compete on for Arsenal, the strength in depth the squad possesses with names such as England internationals’ Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead, as well as summer signing Taylor Hynds and Australian stalwart Caitlin Foord will be fully tested if the North London outfit are to challenge for silverware.
Previous Meetings
A Russo double helped Arsenal to a 3-1 win last season on Merseyside, after the two sides had played out a battling goalless draw at Emirates Stadium in a contest reminiscent of last week’s war with Chelsea.
Games between the two sides have often gone the way of the Gunners, with Everton often going blow for blow with their southern rivals, before usually ending up on the losing side.
But if last week’s scalp over the seemingly invincible Chelsea is anything to go by, Slegers will be in no doubt that this December trip up north will be anything but a war of attrition as the Blues will look to send the Goodison faithful home with an early Christmas present before the festive break.
Everton Women take on Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday, 13 December, at 12pm GMT (7am ET, 4am PT).
