Brian Sorensen has urged his Everton Women side to be sharper and more focused against Manchester City but insists the Blues do not fear the Citizens, despite them being more ‘dynamic’ this season, according to the Toffees’ head coach.
The Dane has also spoken about the changes at the back, something he will have to address ahead of the meeting with their weekend opponents, with Elise Stenevik ruled out for what could be a while after sustaining a hamstring injury against Aston Villa.
Better news regarding Karen Holmgaard, however, who has missed the past two games with a nerve injury, but is in contention for Sunday.
Katie Robinson will also be available after the 23-year-old was unable to play against her parent club.
Aurora Galli, Megan Finnigan and Courtney Brosnan all remain sidelined.
But Sorensen remains in confident mood for the weekend, but has warned that Andrée Jeglertz’s side are much more dynamic this season.
“We don’t fear City. If we get everything right, we can do something,” he said. “We need to tighten up at the back because we have been leaking in recent weeks.
“This league has very fine margins. If you give goals away you are in trouble. We need to be focused and ruthless.
“They’re [City] much more dynamic, they change formation during the game. We could always read what they were going to do and shut those key players down.
”Here, it is harder because they are more dynamic.”
“We want to be super dynamic so teams have a hard time working out what we are going to do.”
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Toni Payne of Everton reacts after missing a chance during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park on November 02, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Toni Payne of Everton reacts after missing a chance during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park on November 02, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
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While Everton found their scoring boots against Villa, the defending was often questionable. With club captain Finnigan still out and Stenevik now joining her on the injury list Sorensen, who does have options at the back, including Issy Hobson, who this week signed her first professional contract with the club, explained why Ruby Mace was deployed in defence.
“It is [frustrating] but it’s not by choice.
“That’s why we put Ruby down, because we need a bit more calmness and coolness. Her overall performance, I was happy with.
The Opposition
Currently second in the WSL with just one reverse that came away at league leaders’ Chelsea, the Citizens have scored in every game they have played this season, and look to have Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw back to her scoring best.
The Jamaican forward, a two-time WSL Golden Boot winner and both Jamaica’s and City’s all-time leading scorer, already has four league goals to her name and will be a handful for whoever Sorensen selects in the centre of defence.
Shaw is also supported by summer recruit Vivianne Miedema, who was one of the more high-profiled transfers in the summer when she left Arsenal to becoming the Citizens’ record signing.
While City have been finding scoring goals easy this campaign, their rearguard has only managed one clean sheet so far, which came last week in a 1-0 home win over the league’s bottom club, West Ham United.
If Everton are to penetrate their visitors’ defence, they will have to outwit a familiar face, with veteran England star and former Toffee Alex Greenwood still going strong.
DERBY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Alex Greenwood of England during the Women’s International Friendly match between England and Australia at Pride Park on October 28, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
DERBY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Alex Greenwood of England during the Women’s International Friendly match between England and Australia at Pride Park on October 28, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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Previous Meetings
With a September meeting in the League Cup going the way of the Citizens, Sorensen will look to last season’s fixture at Walton Hall Park for inspiration, as Everton recorded their first ever league win over City with a deserved 2-1 win in December 2024.
A dominant first half from the Blues was duly rewarded with goals from Lucy Hope and Hayashi, who will have felt that Mary Fowler’s late second half penalty made the scoreline look somewhat flattering for the visitors.
Everton went on to claim four points in the league meetings during the 2024/25 campaign, as Holmgaard cancelled out Kerstin Casparij’s opener in what was a disciplined performance by the Blues at Joie Stadium in April.
Everton Women take on Manchester City on Sunday, 9 November, at Goodison Park. Kick-off for the WSL fixture is at 2.30pm GMT (9.30am ET, 6.30am PT).