Everton manager makes a ‘ruthless’ demand ahead of Manchester United as an injury boost is announced.
Everton will need to be at their best against Manchester United this weekend, according to Brian Sorensen, if they are to win their second consecutive Women’s Super League game.
Everton manager Brian Sorensen has urged his team to be “ruthless” against Manchester United this weekend as they aim to build on their Merseyside derby victory over Liverpool.
Everton picked up their first three points of the season last time out at Anfield thanks to Megan Finnigan’s header, and the Blues now sit seventh in the Women’s Super League (WSL) standings ahead of Sunday’s meeting at Walton Hall Park. United scored three goals without reply the previous time they met Everton on Merseyside, but Sorensen believes his team can use their derby victory as a springboard for a solid run of results in the coming weeks.
“There’s no way around it, we didn’t want to start (the season) like that,” the Dane added, referring to the Blues’ back-to-back defeats against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City. “But we responded pretty well against Liverpool.” We got back on track and now face a difficult game versus United.
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“We have to be at our absolute best to get points, but in this league, you have to be at your absolute best all of the time.” I believe we have a chance against them if we can replicate our attacking and defensive performance against Liverpool. We need to be brutal on both ends before we can do anything.”
Martina Piemonte’s return to squad training has boosted Everton’s hopes of developing a clinical edge up attack. The Italian missed last weekend’s journey over Stanley Park due to a knee injury, but he is now back on the field and might play against United on Sunday.
“We know what Martina can bring,” stated Sorensen. “It’s important that we have those options off the bench that can come in and make a difference if we need it.”
The Blues, on the other hand, will be without wing-back Lucy Hope, who was pulled off the field in the first half at Anfield with a “severe” ankle injury and will now join Sara Holmgaard and Elise Stenevik on the bench. “It’s too early to say whether Lucy will be out for six weeks, eight weeks or more,” Sorensen said in an interview. “It was a big one but she won’t need surgery.”
Everton’s next opponents have had a rocky start to the season, drawing their last two WSL games before falling out of the Champions League qualifying stages in midweek. “That will also maybe give them more motivation to do well in the league,” Sorensen went on to say.
“Every game we play, we try to win.” We must also be realistic. What they spend on transfers is probably equivalent to what we spend on our entire team in half a year, so there is a significant difference. They are favorites every day of the week, but we shall give it our all. We will work hard to play the football in which we believe. We have a chance if we put in a complete performance.”
