We return to Barclays Women’s Super League action on Sunday (1pm UK) as Everton are the visitors to Brisbane Road in our final home game of the calendar year.
The Toffees travel to the capital on the back of picking up their first win in the WSL this season after securing a famous 1-0 over Liverpool in the final Women’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Ahead of our encounter this weekend, we had a chat with ESPN's Merseyside correspondent Beth Lindop to get a lowdown on the Blues…
How would you reflect on Everton’s first half of the season?
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Beth: “It's been a really challenging start to the season for Everton. Sorensen has made no secret of the fact he has had to be smart in the transfer market owing to the club's well-documented financial struggles, and his job was made even harder when he lost two key players - Aurora Galli and Inma Gabarro - to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in the first week of the season.
“There have been some positive results, with the Merseyside derby win over Liverpool before the international break and a goalless draw with Arsenal at the Emirates the standouts so far. Defensively, Everton can be quite tough to break down, but they've struggled for goals and that's something they need to address quickly if they're to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle."
Beth: “Although Everton haven't had a lot of money to spend of late, Veatriki Sarri and Honoka Hayashi - who both arrived on free transfers in the summer - have done really well this season. Justine Vanhaevermaet, who arrived ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, has also been ultra reliable for the Blues, while goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan has come to their rescue on a number of occasions.”
Beth: “It's been a tough couple of years for Everton, but I think the general consensus - certainly within the media - is that Sorensen has done a good job in difficult circumstances. In his first season at the club, he masterminded a top six finish.
“Injuries held the Blues back last season and history seems to be repeating itself a bit this term, but he's done well to keep the team unified and all of the players enjoy his front-footed, possession-based playing style.”
Beth: “As frustrating as this might be for Everton fans, the realistic answer is that the main ambition has to be to avoid relegation. It's very tight at the bottom of the table and Crystal Palace have shown enough to suggest they'll fight to ensure they don't make an immediate return to the Championship.
“Avoiding the drop is the main goal for the Blues and, beyond that, it's about finishing as high up the table as possible.”