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Key events
40 min: Chance for Everton! Bennison collects a loose ball in midfield and plays it forward quickly to Bissell in the inside-left channel. She runs to the edge of the area, defenders converging, and cracks just wide of the near post with her left foot.
It wasn’t a clear chance, but it was the closest we’ve come to a goal so far.
37 min Kearns is fouled on the right wing by Hope, maybe 30 yards from goal. Kearns takes the free-kick herself but it’s too deep and headed behind by Clark.
36 min Parry lifts a good ball down the right to Roman Haug, who wins a corner for Liverpool. Kearns’ delivery is flicked on at the near post and cleared at the far by Hope.
33 min The last 10 minutes have been better, though it’s still a surprising low-key game. Maybe a goal will enliven proceedings.
31 min The corner is cleared and Liverpool break. Kearns tries to run the last defender Wheeler, who does really well to clear the danger.
30 min Bissell beats Parry with a smooth stepover and drives a low cross that is turned behind by Clark for Everton’s first corner…
29 min Almost a very embarrassing moment for Courtney Brosnan. She was miles out of her goal when Finnigan’s pass was intercepted by Roman Haug, who took the shot on from about 45 yards. Brosnan just had enough time to scamper back and make the save.
26 min The first shot on target. Clark swings over a decent cross from the right that is met by Roman Haug, 12 yards out. Her header is comfortably saved by Brosnan.
25 min Missy Bo Kearns belts a dangerous cross from the right, but there’s nobody in the middle and it goes behind for a goalkick. This is the most subdued derby I’ve seen in a long time.
22 min When play resumes, Kiernan shoots well wide from 25 yards. The game hasn’t got going at all.
20 min For the fourth time in the first 20 minutes, there’s a break in play while somebody receives treatment, Ceri Holland this time. I swear I’m not making this up.
19 min A promising build-up from Everton on the right ends when Payne overhits a return pass to Kuhl.
17 min Yep, Brosnan is okay to continue. I reckon we’ve already racked up five minutes of added time.
16 min Brosnan is still being treated; I think she’s going to continue. The relatively sparse nature of the coverage means we haven’t seen a replay of the challenge from Holland. DON’T SHOOT ME.
13 min Brosnan collects a through ball from Parry and is caught very late by Holland, who is booked. Brosnan needs more treatment as a result.
11 min Courtney is okay to continue. The injuries have contributed to a very slow start to this game.
10 min A decent move from Everton ends with Bissell having a shot blocked. But now they have another potential injury problem, with Courtney Brosnan needing treatment to her right leg.
9 min Everton have made a wahtcful start, as you’d expect given their poor recent form. Liverpool are enjoying a lot of possession without really threatening.
5 min Finnigan is back on the field but she’s still limping.
4 min A break in play allows Brian Sorensen to give some tactical advice to Heather Payne. It’s Megan Finnigan who is receiving treatment, and she isn’t moving brilliantly as she jogs to the sideline.
3 min An early half chance for Kearns, whose shot from about 12 yards is well blocked.
1 min After the players take a knee, Leanne Kiernan gets the match under way.
Hurrah! We have pictures, and the match is about to kick off.
We’re five minutes away from kick off and there’s still no sign of life on the FA Player. Fingers crossed, eh.
Team news
Everton bring in Emma Bissell and Heather Payne for Martina Piemonte and the suspended Elise Stenevik.
Liverpool make three changes. In come Lucy Parry, Missy Bo Kearns and the fit-again Fuka Nagano. Out go Emma Koivisto, Marie-Therese Hobinger and Sofie Lundgaard.
Everton (possible 3-1-5-1) Brosnan; Vanhaevermaet, Finnigan, Hope; Wheeler; Galli, Payne, Bennison, Kuhl, Bissell; Snoeijs.
Substitutes: Ramsey, Hart, Veje, Dale, Piemonte, K Holmgaard, Wilding, Hobson, Settle.
Liverpool (possible 3-5-2) Laws; Fisk, Fahey, Clark; Parry, Nagano, Holland, Kearns, Matthews; Kiernan, Roman Haug.
Substitutes: Micah, Lawley, Enderby, Hobinger, Van de Sanden, Daniels, Bonner.
Preamble
The difference a year makes. Last season Everton finished one place and seven points above newly promoted Liverpool. This year Liverpool are four places and a whopping 14 points above Everton. They also have a decent opportunity to break the WSL glass ceiling by finishing in the top four. A win today would take them above Manchester United in fourth with five games to go.
Liverpool might already be fourth but for defeat to Everton at Anfield in October, when Megan Finnigan headed the only goal. Everton aren’t a bad team but they have had a bad season. Doing the league double over Liverpool would assuage that a little.
Kick off 1pm.
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