Everton Women face a significant test when they host Manchester United Women at Goodison Park this Saturday. The Women's Super League fixture offers Brian Sorensen's side a chance to respond after their unbeaten home record was ended last week.

Everton sit seventh in the WSL table with nine points from seven matches. They are ten points behind leaders Chelsea and will be keen to close the gap on United, who currently occupy fourth place. The Toffees' recent form has been inconsistent, with two wins and three losses in their last five league outings.

Recent form and context

Their last match was a 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa. Noelle Maritz put Villa ahead after just four minutes, with Amalie Vangsgaard adding a double. Holly McNamara pulled a goal back for Everton in the 79th minute before Noémie Mouchon sealed the win for the visitors. That result followed a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the WSL Cup, where Ornella Vignola scored both late goals.

Courtney Brosnan captained the side from goal against Villa, with a back four of Hannah Blundell, Naomi Layzell, Hannah Silcock and Maz Pacheco. Ruby Mace and Aurora Galli operated in midfield behind Yuka Momiki, with McNamara leading the line. Everton's injury list includes key players such as Toni Duggan, Karoline Olesen, and Rikke Madsen, while Clare Wheeler is a doubt after being substituted last weekend.

The opposition

Manchester United arrive in strong form, having won their last three matches across all competitions. Their most recent result was a 5-3 away win at Liverpool in the cup, a game in which Lucia Garcia scored a hat trick. Their league campaign has them firmly in the hunt for European qualification. The team's attacking prowess has been a hallmark of their recent performances.

The next challenge

This fixture is a repeat of the season's opening day, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Everton will need to start faster than they did against Villa to trouble a United side high on confidence. Manager Brian Sorensen emphasized the need for a reaction, stating his team must be more aggressive and proactive from the first whistle. The match kicks off at 12:45pm local time on Saturday, October 31st. A positive result could see Everton climb the standings ahead of a busy period, which includes a Merseyside derby against Liverpool next weekend.