24 March 2023 , 07:00
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When more than 27,000 fans converged on Anfield for the Women's Merseyside derby back in September, it felt like Liverpool were poised to etch another memorable chapter into the club's illustrious history.
The Reds' attendance record for a women's game had been obliterated, and Matt Beard's newly-promoted side were buoyed by a shock opening-day victory over reigning Women's Super League Champions Chelsea. Everton meanwhile ventured across Stanley Park having been narrowly beaten by West Ham in their first game under new manager Brian Sorensen, with the memory of last season's disappointing campaign still looming.
It was a stunning performance. Though not - as many onlookers had forecast - for the hosts.
Everton came out of the blocks quickly and were rewarded for their fearless start when defender Megan Finnigan nodded them in front inside nine minutes. Prodigious Manchester City loanee Jess Park doubled the Blues' tally shortly after the half-hour mark, before Hanna Bennison's second-half strike rubber-stamped a famous win in front of an exultant Everton away end.
"Tonight is going to be a massive, massive learning curve for us. Especially the goals we gave away, [they] came from our own turnovers and that’s frustrating, and a set play," Matt Beard said after the game.
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“At the top level you get punished. We’ll learn from that and move on.”
Everton beat Liverpool 3-0 in the reverse fixture at AnfieldAnd Liverpool will get the chance to show exactly how much they've learnt from September's clash when they travel to Goodison Park for the reverse fixture on Friday evening. It will mark the first time a WSL derby has been held at the stadium and, with Everton well on course to smash their previous women's attendance record of 5,598, the stage is set for a memorable occasion at the Grand Old Lady.
"It’s never easy in a derby game because there’s so much tension and people want to fight for everything to win," defender Rikke Sevecke told Mirror Football ahead of the game.
"That’s so exciting for the fans to see because a derby is such a big game and one we want to win no matter what. Of course it is also about tactical things but also in these types of games it’s about fighting for absolutely everything and giving 100 per cent, which is what we're going to do.
"I’m so excited to play at Goodison. It’s a game you look forward to play and I can’t wait to see how many fans there will be in the stands. Winning at Anfield and even playing at Anfield was crazy. It was a really big game and a big win for us."
Indeed, that night at Anfield seemed to set the tone for what has so far been an impressive WSL campaign for Everton, who currently sit sixth in the table. After the dismissal of two permanent managers in the space of four months culminated in a 10th-place finish last term, the Blues look revived under Brian Sorensen, and are vying to make up ground on the league's top four.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have had to endure a more turbulent campaign as they adjust to life back in the top-flight. The Reds patchy form has seen them teeter on the peripheries of another relegation dogfight, although a hard-fought victory over Tottenham last time out - that saw them stay eighth in the table - means they're now almost certain to retain their WSL status beyond the end of this season.
"We knew it was going to be difficult coming into this league and we know the quality gets better and better every season," admitted Taylor Hinds, who joined Liverpool from Everton in 2020.
Taylor Hinds joined Liverpool from Everton in 2020"We knew it was going to be a challenge and it's been a bit of a rollercoaster season and we haven’t had the best of luck with injuries but we’ve stuck together and we’re taking every game as it comes.
"We were really disappointed in ourselves [at Anfield] so hopefully we can come back and show more fight this time. I can’t wait to play at Goodison. These are the kind of games you want to play in - derbies in big stadiums - and it’s a good opportunity for us to show what we can do. The fans are unbelievable and we had a good turnout last time so hopefully we’ll get another good turnout and the win as well."
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Hinds' direct switch from the Blue to the Red half of the city is perhaps reflective of the less vitriolic approach the WSL generally takes to club rivalries. But, while the sense of hostility between the two clubs is not as heightened or full-blooded as in the men's game, the desire to triumph in a Merseyside derby is no less great.
And, with both Everton and Liverpool keen to finish the season as strongly as possibly, there will be more than local bragging rights on the line when the sides meet at Goodison Park.