There are just five games left of the Women’s Super League season, with the pressure mounting at both ends of the table. This weekend’s action gets underway at Leigh Sports Village where Manchester United host Everton in a midday kick-off.
After a difficult first half of the season Everton have moved up to seventh in the table and 10 points clear of danger, meaning they have almost secured their top flight status for another season.
Manchester United go into the weekend in third and will be hoping to take a big step towards securing qualification for next season’s Champions League. With games against each of the top three remaining, the Red Devils will be keen to secure the three points here.
Current Form
United’s 4-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend saw them return to winning ways after the previous week’s defeat to Liverpool, only their second of the season. Overall United have now won eight of their last nine matches.
Everton also picked up all three points last weekend, beating bottom side Crystal Palace. They have won three of their last seven matches, also beating Leicester and Aston Villa which have also helped them move clear of danger.
United are unbeaten at home this season, winning six and drawing two. By contrast, Everton have only won once on the road so far in this campaign, their 2-0 win at Aston Villa earlier this month.
Previous Meetings
This will be the third meeting between the sides this season, with both previous games being at Walton Hall Park. In September United claimed a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture, with Grace Clinton scoring against her former club.
In the League Cup meeting in November United won 2-0 thanks to an own goal and a strike from captain Maya Le Tissier. Overall the Red Devils have won the last five meetings against Everton. Overall they have won 15 out of 18 games against the Toffees.
Everton only have one previous win against United, a 1-0 win in a League Cup fixture back in December 2020 with Lucy Hope getting the only goal of the game.
Team News
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Marc Skinner revealed that Celin Bizet has trained and should be available after she came off injured against Aston Villa and looking in some discomfort at the time.
Gabby George is unavailable to feature against her former club due to suspension, with long-term absentee Evie Rabjohn the only player definitely ruled out of the game through injury.
Everton manager Brian Sorenson has reported no new injury concerns, although on loan midfielder Emma Watson will be unavailable to play against her parent club. There could however be an appearance for former United midfielder Hayley Ladd, who made the move across the North West in January.
Key Players
Two of the most important players for United so far this season have been at opposite ends of the pitch. Forward Elisabeth Terland grabbed a brace last weekend to take her league tally for the season to nine, behind only Khadija Shaw and Alessia Russo.
Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce has 11 clean sheets putting her two clear of Arsenal’s Daphne Van Domselaar and Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton, who are the only two keepers who can now deny the American the Golden Glove at the first attempt.
Currently fourth in the Golden Glove standings is Everton’s Courtney Brosnan, who has kept four clean sheets. French forward Kelly Gago got the winner against Palace and is Everton’s top scorer this season with four league goals, five in all competitions. Honoka Hayashi also has four WSL goals.
Prediction
There is no doubt that Everton will be going into this game in a positive frame of mind after getting an important win last week which means that the pressure is off them for the last few games, which should boost their confidence.
However, United’s dominance in this fixture, their home record compared to Everton’s away record and the fact they have already claimed two wins in this fixture already this season suggest that the Red Devils should get the win this time around.
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