Match preview: On Merseyside to face Everton
Women
25 October 26
Aston Villa Women are back on the road this weekend when they head to Merseyside to face Everton in the Women's Super League.
The Villans claimed their first league win of the season against Liverpool last weekend, with a Chasity Grant super strike and deflected Océane Deslandes corner completing a second half comeback.
Interim head coach Brian Sørensen will be hoping that his side can keep the good momentum rolling on Sunday as he returns to face his former club at Goodison Park.
The Opposition
Our next opponents Everton have made a good start to the season, with five wins from eight games across all competitions.
The Toffees kicked off their WSL campaign with a 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Crystal Palace, but responded with back to back wins over Charlton and West Ham.
They then fell to a 2-0 derby defeat to Liverpool before returning to winning ways against Birmingham City, before falling to another narrow 2-1 defeat to high flying London City last time out.
With three wins in the bag already Head Coach Scott Phelan is making strong progress since taking permanent charge in June. His side sit in sixth in the standings with nine points, just one point off the top four.
Supporters looking to purchase tickets on the day at Goodison Park are advised to head to the Ticket Office located in the Park End Stand, which will be open from 90 minutes before kick off.
Please note only physical card payments are accepted - contactless payment and cash payments are not accepted.
What do the stats say?
- Aston Villa have scored first on each of their last five league visits to Goodison Park, though only won one of those meetings (D1, L3)
- Everton have won five of their last seven WSL home games (L2), having lost a club record six in a row prior
- Aston Villa Interim Head Coach Brian Sørensen has taken charge of more WSL games with Everton (80) than any other manager.
- Akane Okuma has made the most saves (38) and has the second best save rate in the competition this term (75% - min 2 apps)
The Last Meeting
Our last visit to L4 back in January ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Villa Interim Head Coach Brian Sørensen was in the opposite dugout leading home side Everton, who prevailed late on after a tight battle between the teams.
Defender Martina Fernandez scored from a set piece in either half to cancel out Ebony Salmon's early opener for Villa, as the Blues claimed all three points.
The Presser: Thoughts from Interim Head Coach Sørensen
Team News
Midfielders Lucia Kendall and Missy Bo Kearns will be available for Sunday's away trip having completed respective return to play programmes after injury.
As per the player availability update published, on Saturday 24 Octobermidfielder Jill Baijings, forwards Rachel Daly and Kamilla Melgård, defender Lucy Parker and goalkeepers Ellie Roebuck and Lily Clark remain unavailable for selection.
