Everton Women take to the field on Wednesday night as they go in search of a third straight win when they welcome Birmingham City to Goodison Park in their first game of the Subway Players Cup (Women’s League Cup).
Whereas previous formats have seen smaller groups of four or five, this year’s layout has one league of 23 sides, with every participating team playing at least six games, three home and three away.
Games that end all square will be decided by penalties after the 90, with the top eight sides advancing to a straight knockout stage before the winner is decided.
The new format will not feature teams in the Champions’ League due to increased workload management, and has been designed to enhance player welfare and provide more opportunities for players not involved in European competitions.
The League Cup was, under Brian Sorensen, often used as a tool to blood youngsters with the Dane openly prioritising the WSL.
While Scott Phelan will also see the league as the main focus and rightfully so, a summer of wise recruitment may just give the boss more room for manoeuvre as the Blues go in search for their first trophy since 2010.
With a back four that has kept two clean sheets in the last two games, Phelan could well choose not to fix what isn’t broke, although he may see this as a good opportunity to give the versatile Issy Hobson some minutes or even restore Maz Pacheco at left-back. Either way, both players are deemed first team and do not weaken the rearguard in any way.
Megan Finnigan is still only deemed fit enough for the bench, meaning this week’s cup clash with Birmingham may not be worth the risk
Behind them is arguably the WSL’s most underrated keeper in Courtney Brosnan. Current on-field skipper and consitent stopper, could Rylee Foster-Inman be utilised as the boss casts an eye to this weekend’s derby showdown?
Moving into midfield and Aurora Galli will be hoping the League Cup could well be her springboard for the new season, having hopefully put her injury woes behind her, something Karen Holmgaard is currently experiencing.
The gifted Italian signed a new deal in the summer but has yet to feature so far for the Toffees in this campaign, with Ruby Mace, Clare Wheeler and Rosa van Gool currently ahead of her in the midfield pecking order.
Honoka Hayashi and Zara Kramzar are in the conversation, but both aren’t guaranteed starters and will be desperate for minutes to prove they should be permanent fixtures in the starting XI.
Moving to the forward line and new signings Jutta Rantala and Noémie Mouchon are still yet to feature, with Phelan previously stating that one or two signings are not quite yet ready to play.
Whether Wednesday at Goodison is too early or the perfect opportunity for a debut remains to be seen.
Striking options are something Everton aren’t short of, yet after three games and two wins no player in Royal Blue has found the net, with Laia Codina being deemed to have the decisive touch off Yuka Momiki’s injury-time free-kick in Sunday’s win away at West Ham United and an own goal settling matters against Charlton in the first fixture of the season at Goodison.
Despite the goal not being deemed to be hers, Momiki has been a bright spark when playing for the Toffees, although her versatility and the addition of attacking personnel may restrict the Japan international to substitue appearances moving forward.
New arrival Holly McNamara is seen as the No.9 (quite literally) for the Blues, with Hannah Cain and Ornella Vignola currently the trio being trusted to find the goals to earn the points and progress in the cup competitions this season.
Phelan won’t be afraid to make changes if he feels something isn’t working, but Royal Blue Mersey feels that his pragmatic approach and greater talent at his disposal will see changes made in order to win a game rather than prioritise other competitions.
The Opposition
Promoted as champions from WSL 2 last season, Amy Merricks’ side are yet to win a league game this season, although two of the three fixtures have come against Manchester City and Chelsea.
A draw with Brighton & Hove Albion yielded Birmingham’s only point so far, which could have been three had it not been for a late Kiko Seike equaliser.
Despite being winless, the WSL newbies will be in a confident mood having so far outscored their midweek hosts after their trio of games, and may well enjoy being the underdogs in this one.
A squad packed with experience, including experienced defender and former Toffee Millie Turner, names the Blues will be looking out for are fellow former Blues Veatriki Sarri and Simone Magill, who will be out to nab a goal against their former employers.
Goalscoring responsibility has so far been assumed by Océane Hurtré, who already has two so far and will be keen to add to her tally at Everton’s historic home.
Everton Women begin their League Cup campaign at home to Birmingham City on Wednesday, 23 September, at 7pm BST (2pm ET, 11am PT).
Tickets for the clash can be purchased here.
