Everton analysis with football writer, Beth Lindop

As we welcome Everton to Brisbane Road for Wednesday's Women’s Super League fixture at 7pm, women’s football writer for the Liverpool Echo, Beth Lindop, gives us her insight into our opponents.

Season so far

“They’re in a similar position to Tottenham in terms of having setbacks and it not being a flawless season, but you can appreciate how far Everton have come this season by looking at where they finished up at the end of last season, which was a really turbulent one on and off the pitch. They had two permanent managers dismissed and interim managers come in. They got two draws and five defeats from the last seven league games of that season and finished 10th, which is not where a club of Everton’s stature should be finishing. It was a bit touch and go, having a new manager come in in the summer, whether it would be the same old stories of struggling to bed in. They’ve had a lot of loan players come in and it was whether they’d gel, but they have gelled really well and are playing quite an attractive style of football. 

“They’ve had some tough games. On the whole, they have to be quite pleased with where they’re at. Tottenham will be a big test and a chance to test themselves up against a team who they’re looking to compete against for those spots in the top five.”

‘The one that stands out for me is…’

“Jess Park. She’s on loan from Manchester City and the club will be disappointed that she’s only on a season-long loan, but she just looks a different class to be honest when you watch her on the pitch. I was at the Conti Cup game against Villa and she started on the bench. She got brought on in the second half and it was a different game then. She completely dictated the play and got an assist. Even when she’s not chipping in with goals and assists, her energy to drive forward from the middle of the park, she’s a player that really does stand out for me this season. 

“Gabby George and Lucy Graham are more established players in the Everton team, but they’re playing more at wing-back at times this season, which isn’t what they’ve necessarily been used to, but they’ve adapted to that really well, so they’ve got a good mix. They’ve got the youngest starting 11 in the WSL this season and I think that youthful energy has been really beneficial for them, but obviously they do have experienced players like George and Graham in there as well, so they have a good mix.”

New record crowd

“It’s massive - the same with women’s football across the WSL. I spoke to Izzy Christiansen, who has had a couple of spells for Everton as well as playing for City and Lyon, and she said measuring success, they want to be successful on the pitch, but if this time last year you’d have said to her they’d be selling out Walton Hall Park three games in a row, she wouldn’t have believed it. 

“That’s a massive sign of success off the pitch and how far the club has come and how much the club is growing. There definitely is an increased appetite across Merseyside and the pinnacle of that was the Merseyside derby at Anfield in September. I think there were 27,000 at Anfield, which topped the last record attendance in 2019, so that’s going to be a big boost for the girls on the pitch.”

Tickets for Wednesday's game are available here.