This week, Evertonians are honouring one of the most legendary figures in the club’s history, and the women’s squad made sure to give a very impressive tribute at Anfield.
At the home of the Blues’ local rivals, Brian Sorensen succeeded in matching one of the great man’s greatest feats, some eight years after Howard Kendall’s death. Prior to last weekend, no Everton manager, regardless of gender, had led the team to two victories at Liverpool’s storied old stadium in 39 years.
It was a feat that had not been repeated since Kendall’s reign, which may not come as a surprise. Furthermore, it didn’t seem probable that the accomplishment would be replicated anytime soon given the well-documented troubles of Everton’s men’s squad in the Premier League at Anfield.
Let me introduce you to Sorensen, who orchestrated Everton Women’s victory over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, their second straight away victory. The Dane had been eager to minimise the strain on his team before the encounter given their unsatisfactory season opener.
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Of course, Everton’s losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City were somewhat offset by injuries and a contentious offside call. However, the urgency to record some points was growing, especially with the array of difficult games the Blues had coming up in the coming weeks.
In his pre-game press conference, Sorensen had stated, “We just want to get back and showcase ourselves, and there’s no better occasion to do that than a derby.” “(Last year’s victory at Anfield) greatly increased our belief and confidence in our abilities. To replicate that is the goal and the hope.”
Even though Everton came into Stanley Park with a strong history of ruining Liverpool’s Anfield celebration, the Blues could scarcely have predicted a worse start to the match. After Missy Bo Kearns appeared to have given the hosts the lead with a neat goal in front of the Kop, wing-back Lucy Hope was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury within the first five minutes.
Looking back, it appears the Blues were lucky to escape the latter episode unscathed. Kearns’ goal was disallowed due to the offside flag being raised, which allowed Everton to gain momentum in the match.
Appropriately, it was Megan Finnigan, the club captain and a goal scorer at Anfield last season, who rose to nod home from a superb Katrine Veje corner. Everton’s defensive resilience prevailed, ensuring Sorensen’s team won the Merseyside derby once more, despite Liverpool’s valiant attempts to equalise.
The manager and players were clearly relieved as they celebrated in front of the away fans, who were oddly tucked away in a corner of the Kop. After the game, match winner Finnigan said, “I don’t know what came out of me, but all of my emotions just kind of left my body.” “I was so proud and it was really nice to celebrate with the fans at the end.”
Naturally, Everton’s efforts do not end when they play Manchester United at Walton Hall Park on Sunday. However, Anfield remains a comfortable hunting ground for Sorensen’s side—at least for the time being. The men’s team will undoubtedly be hoping that they can also claim that on
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