Courtney Brosnan is already putting past this week’s controversial defeat to Arsenal behind her, and is hoping a big crowd can witness Everton Women end their season on a high at Goodison Park.
The Blues welcome the WSL’s bottom side Leicester City to the Grand Old Lady this weekend, but this campaign’s new home has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Toffees, with just two league wins at the iconic venue all season.
But Brosnan is willing her teammates to finish the campaign on a high
and begin the celebrations with a big crowd.
“Obviously, it will be great to finish our season at Goodison in front of our fans and we are looking forward to seeing everybody there on Saturday,” she said.
“It is a quick turnaround to [hopefully] end the season on a high and we are looking for to being at Goodison and being able to celebrate with everyone.”
Honoka Hayashi looks doubtful for the weekend after leaving the Emirates pitch on Wednesday in some discomfort, but the rest of the playing staff currently available seemed to come through the battle at the Emirates unscathed.
Hayashi’s international teammate Yuka Momiki will be particularly up for the fixture with the Foxes, having swapped the East Midlands for Merseyside in the summer, while Ruby Mace will also be set to face her former employers this weekend.
And while eighth place is the best Phelan can hope for, he will be acutely aware that, should results go against Everton, they could finish as low as 11th.
The Opposition
Leicester coach Rick Passmoor has confirmed that Katie Keane will start in goal this weekend, with Janina Leitzig – so often a nemesis of the Toffees – and Olivia Clark currently sidelined.
Finnish forward Jutta Rantala is available for selection in our final regular season fixture, as the Foxes will be gearing up for a play-off game that will determine their top flight status.
Whether that alters the team’s mindset remains to be seen, but Passmoor will be desperate to add to his side’s total of just two league wins this season, the last coming at home when Leicester bested London City Lionesses in December.
The division’s leakiest defence and most goal-shy forward line, the Foxes will be hoping their host’s poor form will continue till at least after Saturday.
One to watch will be England U-23 forward Shannon O’Brien, who has been the team’s only goalscorer since March, although Alisha Lehmann is another that is always capable of causing an opposing defence problems.
Previous Meetings
It was honours even in October when Noémie Mouchon’s late strike cancelled out Ornella Vignola’s effort, although lasts season’s fixture at the home of the Blues saw no such issues for the hosts, with a brace for Kelly Gago and goals for Katja Snoeijs and Hayashi completed an emphatic 4-1 rout at Walton Hall park.
Leicester did win their home fixture against Everton in the 2024/25 campaign, with a goal from Momiki settling matters for her then employers, although player of the match in this game was without doubt Leitzig, who produced a goalkeeping masterclass Neville Southall would have been proud of during those 90 minutes.
Everton Women’s final home game of the 2025/26 season takes place at Goodison Park on Saturday, 16 May, at 1pm BST (8am ET, 5am PT).
Tickets for the fixture against Leicester City are available here.
