Everton Women v Manchester City Women: Match Preview, Team News and Prediction
Blues Face Toffees in WSL
Manchester City Women look to maintain the strain on the highest three as they journey to Merseyside to face Everton. The blues are simply three factors behind third-placed Manchester United and face a mid-table Everton facet who they beat 4 occasions final season.
City loved a wealthy goal-scoring spree in opposition to the Toffees in these video games, profitable each league matches 4-0 and hitting the identical scoreline within the FA Cup quarter-final. That was added to with a 5-1 dwelling League Cup success as City marched to the ultimate.
Can Gareth Taylor’s facet repeat that feat right now?
Form
City have picked up the tempo since their defeat at Chelsea within the second sport of the season, profitable 4 on the trot and likewise thrashing Blackburn within the League Cup. Last day trip, City recorded a 3-0 win at Reading, courtesy of two second-half personal targets and a strike by Bunny Shaw. The Jamaican striker could have fond reminiscences of visiting Everton – she scored her first aim for City on the opening day final season because the blues took a 3-0 half-time lead.
Everton’s kind has been erratic. After shedding their opening match, the Toffees gained the subsequent two, however have solely gained one from their following three fixtures. A worrying statistic for supervisor Brian Sorensen, who will likely be seeking to change that right now.
Team News
Gareth Taylor will go away it till the final doable minute to decide on whether or not or not Lauren Hemp options in opposition to the Toffees. The winger withdrew from the England squad on account of a thigh damage, and Taylor has remained cautious about her return.
Speaking in his pre-match press convention, Taylor mentioned “she clearly picked up one thing fairly slight from Reading. We will discover out a bit of bit extra over the subsequent 24 hours if she’ll be obtainable or not. We took the precaution over the previous few days to maintain her out of the coaching practices.
“We’ll have some news in 24 hours.”
Everton will likely be with out on-loan star Jess Park, who’s ineligible to play in opposition to her mother or father membership. Former City striker Toni Duggan won’t function for the house facet after revealing her being pregnant, whereas one other former blue, Izzy Christiansen will captain the Toffees in opposition to her former membership.
Statistics
The blues have gained all 12 of their earlier matches in opposition to the Toffees, each dwelling and away.
73% of City’s targets this season have come within the second half. The blues have scored 11 targets within the second half of their matches, in comparison with simply 4 within the first.
A win for the blues would see a thirteenth consecutive victory over the identical opponent, equalling Arsenal’s report, which coincidentally, comes in opposition to the identical opposition.
Prediction
City have gotten their rhythm and with Jess Park unable to function, Everton’s attacking risk has diminished. They do nonetheless pose an enormous risk to the blues and mustn’t be underestimated, however I’m going for a City win right now.
Everton 1-3 Manchester City