The State of Play
Everton sit 14 points behind Liverpool currently and their latest league defeat at the hands of Aston Villa by two goals to one was not only their tenth of the season so far, it was also Everton’s third consecutive loss in all competitions. However, playing at Goodison Park here against their inter-city rivals should give them a much-needed boost with a big crowd of Evertonians expected to be right behind them.
Whilst it’s been an excellent season for Liverpool so far with them currently fifth-place in the Women’s Super League and on the back of three straight wins ahead of this latest round of fixtures, it won’t quite feel complete without beating Everton in the WSL. The Reds were beaten at Anfield by the Toffees in the reverse fixture and whilst they have since gotten the better of Everton in the Continental League Cup, victory in the league is what they will most desire.
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Team News
Everton will be without their goalscorer from last Saturday, after Elise Stenevik was sent off deep into second-half stoppage time against Aston Villa. The defender will therefore miss this game through suspension, with Annie Wilding potentially coming into the Toffees’ starting line-up to replace her.
Liverpool head coach Matt Beard is likely to name the same starting XI that defeated West Ham last weekend. Leanne Kiernan and Norwegian international Sophie Roman Haug were both on the scoresheet vs the Hammers and the two forwards are expected to lead the line together once again on this occasion.
Expected Line-ups
Everton: Brosnan; Vanhaevermaet, Finnigan, Wilding; Galli, Bennison, Wheeler, Moller Kuhl; Hope, Piemonte, Snoeijs
Liverpool: Laws; Koivisto, Clark, Fahey, Fisk, Matthews; Hobinger, Lundgaard, Holland; Kiernan, Roman Haug
What they Said
Liverpool boss Matt Beard on the Merseyside Derby and the pressure being on their opponents at Goodison Park: “Everton raise their game massively for this derby and our form is good. The pressure is on them because it’s at Goodison. It’s a different pressure when you are playing at your main stadium and they only really play the derby at Goodison Park.
It’s an exciting game and one we are looking forward to. We are confident and we just have to make sure we turn up exactly like we did in the Conti Cup game.”
When and How to Watch
This match will be played at Goodison Park in Liverpool on Sunday March 24th and kicks off at 13:00pm UK time. It won’t be televised live in the UK, but can be streamed live via the FA Player
Prediction
Expect an in-form Liverpool to try and dominate the play here and the visitors should come out of the blocks quickly early on. Spurred on by the motivation of losing at Anfield, the Reds are in a prime position to show why they are a stronger all-round side than Everton and provided the occasion of a ‘Merseyside Derby’ doesn’t get the better of them, then Liverpool will be expected to get the better of their local rivals.
