(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Everton host Liverpool in a hotly-anticipated Merseyside Derby in the Women's Super League on Sunday.
The hosts won the reverse fixture at Anfield in October, though Liverpool defeated their city rivals in the WSL Cup two months later. Kick-off is set for 1pm UK time at Goodison Park.
Brian Sorensen's side head into the match ninth in the Women's Super League, with just one win in their last six league matches. In all competitions, Everton have just two wins in their last nine.
The Toffees' form has been mediocre all season, with the Meryeysiders averaging just 0.88 points across their 15 league matches so far (W4, D2, L10). Their home form makes for harder reading, with Everton averaging just 0.5 points from eight home matches (W1, D1, L6) up until this point.
With just 14 goals scored and 29 conceded so far, Everton should count themselves lucky they aren't further down the table. Their defensive woes at home in particular have hampered their progress; 19 goals conceded leaves them with an average 2.38 per game, compared to an expected goals against (xGA) tally of only 1.57.
Going forward, Everton have also struggled on home soil. They've just about exceeded their expected goal (xG) tally of 0.86 per game by scoring 0.88 and, when combined with their defensive woes, it's little wonder they're in the position they're in.
Normally to their detriment, Everton's games have tended to be high-scoring this season, with an average of 2.69 in total, which rises to 3.25 at home. Only 13% of their home matches have resulted in an Everton clean sheet, while they've failed to score in 38% so far.
There have been plenty of big battles in Merseyside! 💪
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 22, 2024
Will it be 🔵 or 🔴 this time?#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/HryJyvmX9z
The away side head to their city rivals in a buoyant mood after going unbeaten in their last four league matches. Three of those four ended in Liverpool wins. The run of form has left Matthew Beard's side in fifth and level with fourth-placed Manchester United on 28 points, with feint hopes of securing a place in the UEFA Champions League next season.
A win against their struggling neighbours will be crucial if they are to stand a chance, and Liverpool's away form this season leaves them in good stead; they've averaged two points per game on the road this campaign (W8, D4, L2), scoring in every game in the process. Their form leaves them with the third best away record in the league.
Liverpool have lost just two league games so far, though both did come in away matches, but have scored an impressive 65 goals in total while conceding just 26. 27 of those goals scored came on the road, where they've conceded just 14.
Their overall xG sits at 2.12, though this drops to 1.68 in away games. Liverpool have exceeded the latter however, averaging 1.93 goals per away match so far. Their xGA sits at 1.22 overall, but increases slightly to 1.38 on the road. Nevertheless, Liverpool have only conceded one goal per game on average in away matches, again leaving them in a strong position as they prepare to face what has been a toothless looking Everton side at the weekend.
Liverpool have kept clean sheets in 32% of league matches (29% away from home), and their games have averaged a total of 3.25 goals (2.93 in away games).
"It’s an exciting game and one we are looking forward to. We are confident and we just have to make sure we turn up exactly like we did in the Conti Cup game."
— Liverpool FC Women (@LiverpoolFCW) March 21, 2024
Liverpool will be eager to overturn their home defeat earlier this season and should be backed to do so on the moneyline. Everton's habit of conceding at home combined with Liverpool's dangerous attacking output should also make for a high-scoring Merseyside Derby heading into the final third of the season.