Everton
Under the management of Willie Kirk, Everton will be aiming for a top four challenge this season. They finished 6th during the 2019/20 campaign but have made a host of signings in their search for a higher position.
In defence they have strengthened with the arrivals of Rikke Sevecke, Ingrid Moe Wold and Poppy Pattinson while in attack they are boosted by the signings of Claire Emslie, Valerie Gauvin and Nicoline Sorensen of whom all have senior international caps. On top of that Australian international Hayley Raso and England capped midfielder Izzy Christiansen will be available after joining in January. A combination of international duty, injury and the coronavirus pandemic prevented Raso from making her WSL debut while Christiansen was hampered through injury.
One that will miss the start of the season through injury however is defender, Gabrielle George. The 23-year-old suffered an ACL injury in February and is currently in the recovery process, missing out on pre-season.
Even with the departure of last year’s top scorer, Chloe Kelly, Everton have been scoring goals throughout pre-season, recording big victories over Championship sides Durham and Blackburn with scores of 5-0 on both occasions. A surprise hero emerged with midfielder Megan Finnigan, who can also be utilised at centre back scoring three goals in the two games after failing to register in her previous 78 competitive outings for the Toffees, managers could be tempted with a £20,000 price tag. Christiansen also had a standout performance against Durham last weekend with a goal and two assists.
There will be a battle for the number one shirt as Tinja-Riikka Korpela and Sandy MacIver go head to head. Korpela was the first choice at the start of last season but with MacIver’s winter arrival, the English youngster was preferred towards the end of the season. The 22-year-old is only priced at £20,000.
Manager, Kirk is a fan of using the youth mixed with experience handing 17-year-old Grace Clinton a role during pre-season. She scored in the victory over Durham and will be one to keep an eye on, with ShePlays likely to add her throughout the campaign dependent on appearances. There are several players in the £17,500 category that have also been utilised by Kirk throughout last season and this pre-season to keep tabs on including Elise Hughes and Chantelle Boye-Hlorakh who both registered goals in pre-season.
Everton face a trip to relegation tipped Bristol City on the opening day before welcoming Tottenham Hotspur to Walton Hall Park, their home ground in Liverpool in round two. These are two fixtures that could tempt managers in taking a gamble on some Toffees.
Below we take a look at three players that could prove vital in Everton’s top four quest:
Star of the Show: Danielle Turner – DF – £45,000 – 143 points during the 2019/20 WSL campaign
Last season’s second highest points scorer for the Toffees (after Chloe Kelly) was full back, Danielle Turner. She was the highest scoring English left back with 143 points even though she only scored one goal in her 14 appearances. The Everton club captain is likely to start every game when fit and with a £45,000 price tag and a record of high scoring points, the defender could tempt managers.
Learn more about Turner’s career so far here
New Arrival: Valerie Gauvin – FW – £40,000
French striker, Valerie Gauvin joined Everton in the summer of 2020 from Montpellier. She scored 14 goals in 16 games in the French League last year and has been a consistent goal scorer throughout her career. The 24-year-old will look to cement her place in the side as Everton are likely to surface with a whole new front line. Emslie, Raso, and Sorensen as well as existing strikers Simone Magill, Hughes and Boye-Hlorakh will be fighting for a space in the Toffees attack. At £40,000 Gauvin is more expensive than both Emslie and Sorensen so may be a risk for the first few games as Kirk finds his favoured XI, if Gauvin does play, goals should come naturally with a tie against Bristol City in round one looking promising.
Kid on the Block: Molly Pike – MF – £17,500 – 19 years old
The 19-year-old midfielder had a breakthrough season last year for the Toffees. She made her professional debut against Bristol City before going on to feature in 12 of the 14 games league games throughout the season. This included seven starts scoring once in the process as she recorded 48 ShePlays points. Manager Willie Kirk has publicly said he is a fan of the central midfielder, but Pike faces tough competition for a starting spot this season. England’s Izzy Christiansen has returned to full fitness and has impressed during pre-season along with Megan Finnigan while Maeva Clemaron and matchday captain, Lucy Graham are options in the centre of the park. At £17,500, Pike is worth the risk for the first few games while it becomes clear what Kirk’s favoured midfield will be.
Learn more about Pike’s career so far here
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