City Host Everton Women In League Cup Opener
The 7pm kick-off sees the Foxes return to action after the international break, aiming to record their first victory of 2021/22.
Wednesday’s visitors, meanwhile, lost 5-1 to Manchester City in their first group stage fixture last month, despite Grace Clinton’s early equaliser at Academy Stadium.
It proved to be Willie Kirk’s final game in charge of the team and leaves the Toffees bottom of a five-team pool which also includes Manchester United and Durham.
Here’s all you need to know about the Group B encounter…
The Foxes camp
City earned plaudits for their gusty display in a 2-0 defeat to WSL champions Chelsea last month, when it took two late goals for Emma Hayes’ side to emerge victorious at Kingsmeadow.
After over three weeks without a competitive outing, the games are starting to come thick and fast in November, with five fixtures to play across the month, including two in the League Cup.
Although there’s an important league clash with Manchester City to come at King Power Stadium on Sunday, all focus will initially be on tackling Everton in a competition that Leicester reached the semi-finals of last season.
In the dugout
Wednesday’s game will present Jean-Luc Vasseur with his first taste of English football five days on from his unveiling as the new Everton Women manager.
The Frenchman, who took over following the departure of Willie Kirk, boasts an impressive CV having won the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Lyon.
Named as FIFA World Women’s Coach of the Year in 2020, he also guided Lyon to the French league title, Coupe de France, Trophée des Championnes, and Women's International Champions Cup during 2019/20.
The opposition
It’s been a mixed start for the Toffees, who are looking to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish in the WSL but have so far failed to gain any real momentum. An opening day 4-0 home reverse against Manchester City was followed by another defeat by the scoreline at the hands of Chelsea.
The Merseysiders then got off the mark with back-to-back wins over struggling Birmingham City and Reading, scoring six goals in the process, but were soon on the end of a dominant display by early leaders Arsenal, losing 3-0.
It leaves Everton eighth in the league standings after five matches, with six points to their name. The seven goals they have scored across all competitions this term have come from seven different players.
Ones to watch
It was something of a coup for Everton to land French international forward Valérie Gauvin in August 2020, following six years with Montpellier. A total of eight goals in 20 games during her maiden season in England was an impressive return considering she spent time out injured. Not just known for her goalscoring ability, which saw her score at a better rate than one in every two games in France, Gauvin can also use her strong technique and aerial ability to bring others into play.
England forward Toni Duggan made a return to the Toffees this summer, eight years after leaving to join Manchester City, where she won four trophies in four seasons. The 30-year-old, who has 76 England caps and 22 goals to her name since making her senior international debut in 2012, went on to play for Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, winning a further four trophies during her time in Spain.
Another player to arrive back at the club is England midfielder Izzy Christensen, re-joining the Toffees in January 2020, over a decade on from her first appearance. Her quality was clear to see as she picked up Everton’s Player of the Season prize in 2020/21 after contributing six goals and a further six assists, while also being nominated for the WSL Player of the Season award. Christensen previously turned out for Birmingham City, Manchester City – where she claimed the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year - and then Lyon, winning the treble at the French club in 2018/19.
Talking points
Manager Jonathan Morgan told LCFC TV: “Obviously, we will look to assess from a physical point of view, but at the same time we want to be trying to pick a consistent XI at this moment in time. We need those girls to keep gelling, we need them to work together well on the pitch. We just want to make sure we put our best out and keep working hard.”
Defender Ashleigh Plumptre commented: “We have a lot of games in a short space of time, so we have to focus on one game at a time but also not get too ahead of ourselves thinking about which team we’ve got. It’s just focus on Everton, then Man City and then hopefully keep getting better because I think that’s what we’re doing at the moment.”
Ticket news
Match tickets will be available from the ticket office at Pirelli Stadium from 5pm onwards, priced at £7 for over-18s, £3.50 for seniors (65+) and £3 for under-18s, while under-8s go free. Pay on the day car parking is also available for £5 per space. Click HERE for more information.
Last time out
The pair last met in this competition on 11 December, 2019, when Everton ran out 4-0 winners at Farley Way Stadium in their final Group C fixture.
Goals from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Elise Hughes, Taylor Hinds and Inessa Kaagman wrapped up victory for the visiting Toffees.
Three current Foxes players were in the starting XI for Everton that day – Kirstie Levell, Hannah Cain and Molly Pike.
All times GMT.