‘They're Separate Games’ – Kirk Prepares For Second Everton Test

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‘They're Separate Games’ – Kirk Prepares For Second Everton Test

Willie Kirk understands that Sunday will be a different game against Everton for LCFC Women, who dispatched the Merseyside club on Wednesday evening.

2024-01-28T08:48:00.000Z

by Matthew Temple

Published

28 Jan, 2024

‘They're Separate Games’ – Kirk Prepares For Second Everton Test

Willie Kirk understands that Sunday will be a different game against Everton for LCFC Women, who dispatched the Merseyside club on Wednesday evening.

Matthew Temple

2024-01-28T08:48:00.000Z

‘They're Separate Games’ – Kirk Prepares For Second Everton Test

Willie Kirk understands that Sunday will be a different game against Everton for LCFC Women, who dispatched the Merseyside club on Wednesday evening.

Matthew Temple

2024-01-28T08:48:00.000Z

‘They're Separate Games’ – Kirk Prepares For Second Everton Test

Willie Kirk understands that Sunday will be a different game against Everton for LCFC Women, who dispatched the Merseyside club on Wednesday evening.

Matthew Temple

2024-01-28T08:48:00.000Z

‘They're Separate Games’ – Kirk Prepares For Second Everton Test

Willie Kirk understands that Sunday will be a different game against Everton for LCFC Women, who dispatched the Merseyside club on Wednesday evening.

Matthew Temple

2024-01-28T08:48:00.000Z

After beating the Toffees 5-1 in midweek in the Continental Tyres League Cup, the Foxes prepare to face the same side again, this time in the Barclays Women’s Super League, where they are currently one point behind Sunday’s hosts.

Here are the main talking points from the Manager’s preview with the media at Belvoir Drive…

A competitive atmosphere

Japanese duo Saori Takarada and Yuka Momiki have both made a positive impact since joining the Club this month, and as the squad grows ever bigger with more quality, Kirk explained how difficult conversations may have to be had in terms of squad selections.

“We want the players to be competitive against each other as we want to replicate those high standards on the pitch on Sunday,” the Manager spoke in Friday’s press conference. “We know if we can get that training to a certain level, then it makes matchdays easier.

“We’re having open and honest conversations now with the players about the size of the squad, and it’ll probably be at 25 by the end of the window, so it’s about competing with each other but being selfless as well and putting the team first.

“If they do that, and each player does their bit for the team, then it’ll be an enjoyable last 16 weeks, and hopefully a successful last 16 weeks where we achieve more of our goals.”

Asmita Ale's arrival

Another winter addition was the loan signing of Asmita Ale, who will spend the rest of the season away from her parent club Tottenham Hotspur, as she heads out seeking vital minutes for her development.

The Manager said that the young Lioness will be involved in the squad that travels to Walton Hall Park this weekend and hopes she will offer fresh competition in several areas of the defence.

“Asmita [Ale] is a really good character and is very good technically,” the 45-year-old continued. “She’s versatile in terms of where we can get her on the pitch; she can play full-back either side, she can play wing-back, or even in a back three.

“She gives us a lot of options and is a really nice kid. She’s focused on her development and wants to move forward in her game. She’s had a frustrating six months at Spurs, so she gets an opportunity here.

“She’s trained well in the sessions she’s been in, so she’ll be part of the 20-player squad on Sunday, which is a step closer than she was on Wednesday, watching from the stands.”

A second outing against Everton

Having already played, and beaten, Sunday’s opposition only days ago will give great confidence to the team, but the former Everton manager understands that changes will be made to the home side and is keen to look at it as a completely different fixture.

“I treat them as separate games,” Kirk added. “Some of work will be based on the Aston Villa game, and other bits will be based on the previous Everton game on Wednesday. We learn every game, and there’s still bits we want to improve on.

“We analyse our opponent, but I don’t think it will affect us mentality, the fact that we’ve already played them this week. I think Everton made more changes than we did on midweek so I think there will be more from them again this weekend as they return to full strength.”

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