Brian Sørensen has done it once again and Merseyside remains Blue!
7th September, Anfield. The opening game of the 2025 Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) season and the first Merseyside derby… Everton Women boast an impressive record in the derby, having won all 5 of the previous meetings at Anfield. It was a big ask for Sørensen’s Toffees to uphold their record given it’s the first game of the season and the turnover of players in the summer window.
To summarise:
Departures: Maren Mjelde (Arna-Björnar), Rikke Madsen (HB Køge), Lauren Thomas (Sheffield United), Heather Payne (Leicester City), Justine Vanhaevermaet (Crystal Palace), Karoline Olesen (Malmö FF), Sara Holmgaard (Real Madrid CF), Veatriki Sarri (Birmingham City).
Season-long loans: Melissa Lawley (Burnley FC), Issy Hobson (Nottingham Forest), Inês Pereira (Deportivo de La Coruña).
Arrivals: Maz Pacheco (Aston Villa), Katie Robinson (Aston Villa), Ornella Vignola (Granada CF), Rosa van Gool (AFC Ajax), Yuka Momiki (Leicester City), Ruby Mace (Leicester City), Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Red Diamonds), Hikaru Kitagawa (BK Häcken FF), Martina Fernández (following successful loan spell since January).
A big change to the squad, a big test in upholding the Merseyside bragging rights. The question on everyone’s lips was ‘surely he can’t make it 6 from 6 at Anfield?’ Here is how it went…
Liverpool looked the stronger team from the offset, boasting new signings Lily Woodham (Seattle Reign) and permanent signing Sam Kerr (after a successful loan spell). With them, it took just 12 minutes for the Reds to take the lead, with a wonder strike from young Swede Cornelia Kapocs, in front of the historic Kop. Everton’s no.1, Courtney Brosnan, was quick to lose her record of never conceding at Anfield in the WSL, as Everton continued shakily and without being able to get a foothold in the game.
Liverpool continued to look the stronger team for the majority of the first half until the first counterattack for the Blues… A Liverpool set piece ended in an Everton goal as Hayley Ladd wrestled the ball free from the box and placed a picture-perfect pass to debutant Ornella Vignola. The 20-year-old Spaniard took on Liverpool’s defence from her own half and produced a wonder goal to put Everton level in the 24th minute. The first counterattack, the first goal…
Everton’s strength grew from there on. Finally, a level matchup and we had a derby on our hands. The Reds continued their pressure as efforts from Fisk, Enderby, and Bonner all evaded the target, but it was derby day hero Katja Snoeijs, on the end of Toffee debutant Maz Pacheco’s cross to put the Blues 2-1 up at the break. Snoeijs has now scored in the past three Merseyside derbies… the first player to do so since Kelly Shimmin in 1999 and the first to do so in the new WSL league system. She was rewarded for her previous derby day heroics with the captain’s armband today, as Club Captain Megan Finnigan continues her ACL recovery and sits on the sidelines.
Come the second half there was a flurry of changes for Everton as Karen Holmgaard (who scored at Anfield in the Blues last victory in May), Clare Wheeler, and new signing Ruby Mace came on for the second 45mins. All big game players. From the offset of the second half, the Blues took a hold of the game and turned their counterparts inside out. It took just 9 minutes for young Spaniard, Vignola, to get her brace, as her powerful header (once again from a Maz Pacheco cross) ricocheted off the crossbar into the back of the net. Everton were on the up and up.
Just 2 minutes from the reset, Vignola had her hattrick. Writing her name into the history books, here is the best of her stats:
- She is the first Everton player (of any gender) to score a hattrick vs Liverpool since the great Dixie Dean, back in 1931.
- She is also only the 2nd WSL player to score a hattrick on her competitive debut, sharing the honours with Brighton’s Kiko Seike.
- Moreover, she joins 3 other young WSL stars as only the 4th under-21 player to score a hattrick in the league.
My first question is… when is her statue being erected?
The travelling fans were in fine voice, the Blues were running Liverpool ragged, and the game was well and truly put to bed by the 60-minute mark. The Blues saw the game out with efforts coming close in the closing minutes from the likes of another young debutant, Rosa van Gool.
Liverpool also gave some of their new summer signings Kirsty Maclean (Rangers), Beata Olsson (Kristianstads DFF), and Risa Shimizu (season long loan from Manchester City) a run out. Overall, it has been a successful transfer window for both clubs on Merseyside as Liverpool offered new contracts to; Alejanda Bernabe (following successful loan spell since January), Leanne Kiernan, Zara Shaw, Hannah Silcock, Gemma Bonner, Fuka Nagano, Mia Enderby, Faye Kirby, Rachael Laws, and Ceri Holland. Highlighting the importance to LFC of player retention and investment in the women’s team. They also completed some new, summer signings; some previously mentioned as well as Rafaela Borggrafe (SC Freiburg) and Emilia Szymczak (season long loan from Barcelona).
As for Everton, The Friedkin Group investment has been clear to see already from the first minutes of the season, as the new signings helped provide a pivotal, historic, and impressive win over the rivals. ‘One more goal, we’re top of the league’ was the chant from the travelling Toffees during extra time. Although this didn’t materialise, I don’t think anyone can complain with ending GW1 in 3rd place, and it being the first opening day win for the Blues in 5 years. In 90+5mins, Sørensen’s Toffees have done it again. The city stays Blue, quite frankly it’s never not been Blue. A historic day all round.
If you want to be a part of History, you can purchase tickets to watch Everton Women during their inaugural season at Goodison Park here: evertonfc.com/women/season-tickets.
The next challenge for the girls in Blue is against Tottenham Hotspur, Sunday 14th September – KO 2:30pm. The players, staff, Supporters Club, and existing season ticket holders look forward to seeing you there.
‘We’re all for one, one for all’ and so whether it is the men’s or women’s team, long may this upwards trajectory continue. As always… Up The Toffees.
Signing off,
Lauren Briscoe
