Brian Sorensen has spoken of his delight at Everton Women’s playing at the ‘historic’ Goodison Park in the 2025/26 season, but has warned his side about the threat posed by Tottenham Hotspur.
The Blues destroyed neighbours Liverpool in the WSL curtain raiser but had to come from behind at Anfield and the Toffees’ coach knows his team must be ready from the off when Martin Ho’s side visit the Grand Old Lady on Sunday, 14 September.
Sorensen – who was awarded the LMA’s Everest Women’s Performance of
the Week award following the opening day win – confirmed in his press conference that there are no fresh injury concerns, and summer signing Hikaru Kitagawa is back on the training pitch.
Ready or not for Sunday the Japan defender will face competition for places, although the boss feels that is team is still getting to know each other as the new signings settle in.
But whoever is named in the starting XI for Sunday, they will be playing at stadium that is full of history and is ready for a whole new era, according to Sorensen.
“Goodison Park is a blend of a new era and the history that is here,” he said. “I love the quote: ‘you don’t become an Evertonian, you are born it.’ I told the girls, we have inherited something historic.”
“It is an amazing stadium, it is an amazing pitch.”
“We are super excited to be here [Goodison Park]. It has started to feel like home. The stadium has started to take shape. It is a gift and we are ready.
“Everyone is doing great, we have no new injuries. Hikaru [Kitagawa] is back on the pitch.”
And on the weekend’s game, Sorensen feels his team are still yet to click but believes they will have benefitted from going behind at Anfield, and something that will stand them in good stead against a dangerous Spurs side.
“We need to be ready and showcase ourselves. Tottenham Hotspur are a good side with good players,” he continued.
“We are still not 100% in terms of us clicking as a team. It was a good experience of adversity where you have to fight back. To come back and turn it around so much was good to see.“
The Opposition
Molly Bartrip remains unavailable for this weekend’s trip to Everton and joins long-term absentees Luana Buhler and Ella Morris on the sidelines.
Veteran defender Ashleigh Neville will face a late fitness test ahead of the game at Goodison.
A Beth England penalty settled matters against West Ham as Ho kicked off his managerial tenure with a win, although summer acquisition Tōko Koga looked impressive on her competitive debut since her move from Feyenoord.
Previous Meetings
Everton are unbeaten in each of their six previous WSL home games against Spurs, although three of the last four encounters have ended all square, including last season’s 1-1 draw at Walton Hall Park on the final day of the season.
Despite the Lilywhites’ away record on Merseyside, Spurs are unbeaten in last four WSL meetings with the Blues, with both sides scoring in each contest in the last five league meetings.
Everton Women host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 14 September. Kick-off for the Toffees season opener at Goodison is at 2.30pm local time (9.30am ET, 6.30am PT).
