1.Great Everton Women vs Brave Brighton & Hove Albion: WSL Match Preview

Everton Women return to WSL action with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday and have the chance to climb above their South Coast rivals if they can win by two clear goals.

Brian Sorensen has some encouraging news on the injury front with a number of players returning to the squad, including Karoline Olesen, who has not featured for the Toffees since leaving the pitch on a stretcher in her team’s 2-0 win over West Ham United in February.

Everton will be without veteran striker Toni Duggan for the match with the Seagulls, while Heather Payne will face a late fitness test after reporting back from international duty with an Achilles’ problem, but may be fit enough for a place on the bench.

No such look for goalkeeper Emily Ramsey though, who has suffered another setback in her long rehabilitation by twisting her ankle this week in training.

With just four games remaining this season and just one league victory in 2024, Sorensen – who this week signed a two-year extension to his Everton contract – will be keen to amass as many points in the remaining quartet of encounters, which include a visit of title-chasing Arsenal to Walton Hall Park later this month.

The Opposition

Interim manager Mikey Harris will welcome back veteran defender Maria Thorisdottir and striker Pauline Bremer for the visit of the Toffees, but will be without midfielder Vicky Losado for this evening’s clash as she serves a suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Marc Atkins – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

 

The Seagulls have implemented a change in style since Harris’ arrival in February, picking up wins on the road against Leicester City and Bristol City, which has seen Brighton pull clear of the relagtion zone.

A win over the Toffees will see South Coast side climb to seventh, and they will be looking to striker Elisabeth Terland to continue her rich vein of scoring if they are to claim victory.

Indeed, the Norway international has 14 goals in 24 games and accounts for around a third of her team’s scoring return this season.

Defending has been an issue for Brighton though, with just on clean sheet in the league in 18 games and only Aston Villa and bottom club Bristol City conceding more.

Previous Meetings

Four wins, four draws and four defeats in league meetings with Brighton make this an even more intriguing encounter that is difficult to call.

Terland certainly enjoys scoring against Everton, including two in last season’s fixture at Broadfield Stadium in what ended 3-2 in favour of the hosts.

The Toffees got revenge in the reverse fixture in May; Katja Snoeijs’ third goal in two games against the Seagulls during the 2022/23 campaign helped earn the Blues a 2-1 win.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Emma Simpson – Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images

 

Treland continued her scoring form in this fixture in this season’s opening encounter with two goals in the first 15 minutes that ultimately proved enough for her team to leave Merseyside with all three points, despite Megan Finnigan’s second half reply.

If one team is to triumph tonight, you wouldn’t bet against either of the above forwards having a big say in the outcome.

Let’s just hope it’s the Dutch forward who is saying – and scoring – more.

Everton take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the American Express Stadium on Friday, 19 November.

Kick-off is at 7pm (BST).