Everton Women travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United Women in the WSL Cup Group Stage on Wednesday evening.
Everton currently sit seventh in the Women's Super League standings with nine points from seven games. Their recent form shows two wins and three losses from their last five outings, leaving them ten points behind leaders Chelsea. The most recent of those defeats was a 2-3 home loss to Aston Villa last Saturday, where late goals from Holly McNamara and Noémie Mouchon provided a consolation after Aston Villa had built a lead through goals from Noelle Maritz and a double from Amalie Vangsgaard.
Recent form
That loss to Villa followed a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday 21 October, secured by a late Ornella Vignola brace, with her second goal assisted by C. Wheeler. Before that, Everton fell 2-1 to London City Lionesses on Sunday 18 October, having beaten Birmingham City 2-1 on Sunday 4 October. Prior to that, they lost 2-0 to Liverpool on Sunday 27 September. The team's last starting lineup, a 4-4-2 formation used against Aston Villa, featured Brosnan in goal with a back four of Blundell, Layzell, Silcock and Pacheco. The midfield comprised Cain, Mace, Galli and Vignola, supporting forwards Yuka Momiki and McNamara.
Sheffield United Women's most recent starting eleven, from a match against Manchester United last month, included Soper in goal and Cowan in defence. The Blades also fielded Pearse, Reavill, O'Rourke, Scofield, Rouse, Harwood, Houssein, Baker and Jones.
With the WSL Cup offering a chance to reset, Everton will aim to tighten a defence that has conceded nine league goals this season while scoring seven, resulting in a goal difference of minus two. The team's goal difference of minus two reflects their struggle to convert draws into wins, having drawn only once.
