Everton Women v Manchester City Women - Match Preview and Prediction

Manchester City Women make the journey down the East Lancs to face Everton for the opening game of the new season.

The blues will be eager to make a winning start to the new season as they look to chase down current champions Chelsea and claim a second WSL title, and must overcome the team they played four times last season and emerged victorious on each occasion.

City did the league double over the Toffees last season, winning the away game 3-0 in December, before overcoming the Mersey blues 1-0 at the Academy Stadium in March. City also beat Everton 3-1 at Wembley in the Women’s FA Cup Final and recorded a victory by the same scoreline in the League Cup group stage in October.

With two of City’s contenders for the league title, Arsenal and Chelsea, duelling it out on the opening day, a win for City could be a psychological win over one or both of their rivals.

Team News

Goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, who missed Tuesday’s draw at Real Madrid, will be out for an ‘extended period’ according to boss Gareth Taylor, as will Keira Walsh who has a similar calf injury to Roebuck. Striker Ellen White may also miss the game, with Taylor not elaborating on the reason for her absence.

Lucy Bronze is still out after undergoing an operation following the Olympics, but Georgia Stanway is in contention to make the team.

New signing Filippa Angeldhal may not be fit enough to face the Toffees, after only signing for the blues on Thursday.

Toni Duggan could make her second Everton debut against her former club.

Prediction

Although missing a few players and no doubt it will take time for the new signings to adapt to life in the WSL, the blues should still have too much for the Toffees and will make a winning start to the season.

Everton 0-3 Manchester City