Key events
Peeeeeeeep! Everton v Arsenal is underway!
Here we go.
Everton and Arsenal’s teams are out on the pitch, and there will be a minute’s silence for Poppy Atkinson, a keen footballing 10-year-old who tragically died in a car collision at a sports pitch in Kendal, Cumbria.
Pleased to say that Hinds retains her place in the Liverpool XI at left wing-back after last weekend’s awfulness.
Of course, it’s the Women’s League Cup final tomorrow between Chelsea and Manchester City. Here are two preview pieces for you to read before the showpiece at Pride Park.
Here’s what Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers had to say before the trip to Everton:
They are a challenging team. They’re one of the most unpredictable tactically. So we’ll have to be prepared. It was 0-0 at home. I think we did a lot of things quite well in that game. We just didn’t score. They’ve recruited new players. I think they’re strong at the moment. They’re strong at their home ground. So we know it’s a big challenge. But obviously we also believe in what we’re doing.
After missing last weekend’s FA Cup game, Terland is fit to return to United’s XI. This isn’t a revolutionary point, given she’s the reigning WSL player of the month, but I love what the Norwegian brings to this United team. I have a little bet with my pals for her to finish second in the WSL scoring standings (behind Bunny Shaw). She’s currently on seven goals from 13 games. Only Shaw (12 goals), Russo (eight) and Beth England (eight) are above Terland.
Liverpool v Manchester United team news
Liverpool: Laws, Matthews, Clark, Bernabe, Smith, Kerr, Nagano, Hobinger, Hinds, Haug, Kapocs.
Subs: Micah, Parry, Evans, Fahey, Enderby, Bartel, Daniels, Shaw.
Man Utd women: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, George, Clinton, Janssen, Ildhusoy, Toone, Galton, Terland.
Subs: Middleton-Patel, Mannion, Sandberg, Naalsund, Miyazawa, Malard, Williams.
You might notice that both games are on Merseyside tonight. Everton v Arsenal is at Walton Hall Park but Liverpool v Manchester United is at Anfield! This is the first time Liverpool’s women’s side has played an evening game at Anfield, so it’s going to be quite the event. I’m told nearly 10,000 tickets have been sold. So plenty of motivation for Liverpool, even if their league season has fizzled out a little. Stranded in mid-table, both Liverpool and Everton are safe from relegation (yes, that is still a thing until 2026-27 at least) and adrift of European qualification.
Everton v Arsenal team news
Everton Women: Brosnan, Mjelde, Fernandez, Stenevik, Sara Holmgaard, Vanhaevermaet, Snoeijs, Ladd, Hayashi, Toni Payne, Gago.
Subs: Ramsey, Wheeler, Lawley, Hope, Watson, Heather Payne, Sarri, Karen Holmgaard, Olesen.
Arsenal Women: Zinsberger, Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe, Maanum, Little, Caldentey, Kelly, Walti, Russo.
Subs: Williams, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Foord, Mead, Hurtig, Blackstenius.
Preamble
A popular golf phrase is that ‘you can’t win a tournament on the first day, but you can certainly lose it’. This is certainly relevant for tonight’s WSL fixtures. Second-placed Manchester United and third-placed Arsenal certainly cannot win the WSL title with wins tonight but if they drop points against Liverpool and Everton respectively, then surely their title chances are done and dusted (if they aren’t already).
It’s not that the gap to Chelsea is gargantuan. But, should United or Arsenal limp to a draw or defeat tonight (against Liverpool and Everton respectively), leaders Chelsea have been too good this season to suggest that they are going to drop at least seven points from their final six games. The Blues remain invincible. They have plenty of motivation to remain unbeaten, have a far superior goal difference to their rivals (effectively good for another point) and a stacked squad, which was heavily bolstered in January and which is about to get even stronger.
Still, if United win tonight, the gap is just five points. United are on a seven-game winning streak in the WSL, stretching back to early December (a run that started with a 4-0 win over Liverpool). Arsenal are on a similar league run, save for a crucial 1-0 defeat to Chelsea back in January. Both red teams are still in excellent form. The WSL title race is not over until the fat man sings.
Join me for this epic double-header, hindered only by the fact that the two kick-offs are at slightly different times. Thanks, schedulers!
Everton v Arsenal, 7pm (all times GMT).
Liverpool v Manchester United, 7.15pm.
