The plan
Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong for Everton last season did. With just five wins all year, and two managers and an interim coach later, they finished 10th having flirted with relegation.
A strong 2020-21 campaign had provided a sense that Everton could be the club to break up the established top four. However, a tough series of losses to Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal saw Willie Kirk sacked after five games. Disaster followed with the appointment of Jean-Luc Vasseur who lasted just three months. Assistant Chris Roberts stepped up to steady the ship and ensure Everton stayed in the top division.
It is, therefore, difficult to know what to expect this year. For starters, they have a new manager in Brian Sørensen. The Dane is highly regarded but will need time to mould a much-changed squad, something his two predecessors were not afforded.
Everton have lost several players over the summer, including Danielle Turner and Simone Magill, who have been constants over the last decade. Claire Emslie, Kenza Dali and Anna Anvegård, Everton’s attacking core, have also departed.
Sørensen has recruited smartly, however. Speedy Dutch striker Katja Snoeijs has arrived from Bordeaux while Katrine Veje returns to the WSL from Rosengård. Equally, the arrival of the Danish Holmgaard twins, Sara and Karen, from Potsdam offers cause for optimism. Sara will head straight out on loan to Fortuna Hjørring but Karen is part of the first team set-up. Meanwhile, the highly-rated Manchester United goalkeeper Emily Ramsey has arrived on loan to fill the gap left by Sandy MacIver while Jess Park and Aggie Beever-Jones have also come in for the season, two of the most exciting young attacking talents in English football.
In comparison to last year, Everton have a relatively comfortable start to the season. They would expect to win their first three fixtures, against Leicester, West Ham, and newly promoted neighbours Liverpool. If they do, the club’s ambitions of a top-half finish should not be far off.
The manager
Sørensen arrives from Danish club Fortuna Hjørring with titles to his name and is known for building a strong culture at clubs. He has already called on his players to know their identity and will have pinpointed the need for them to improve their productivity. He likes his sides to play possession-based football, creating different passing options. Out of possession he sets up his teams to defend from the front while the midfield area is the key component.
Key player
Captain Izzy Christiansen is one of those that makes everything tick. A leader both on and off the pitch, she has embraced the captaincy despite its difficult moments last season. Forward-thinking in attack, she has the vision and delivery to move her team forward. Christiansen is also tenacious and will not shy away from a tackle. Her experience is key, and she will have a calming influence on the younger players around her.
Big summer signing
The arrival of the Holmgaard twins is an exciting prospect for Everton. However, Katrine Veje is probably the Toffees’ star signing of the summer. The veteran Danish full-back brings a wealth of experience with her; she has 140 caps for her country, previous WSL exposure from a spell at Arsenal, and has won trophies in multiple countries. The 31-year-old is versatile and can play further forward if the need arises.
Euro 2022 delight/heartache
Swedes Hanna Bennison and Nathalie Björn were both integral to Sweden’s advance to the semi-finals in the summer. Björn provided vital solidity to a Covid-ravaged squad. Meanwhile, Bennison scored one of the goals of the tournament with a rocket against Switzerland. Veje, Rikke Sevecke and the Holmgaard twins featured heavily for Denmark but did not progress past the group stage.
Bring on the crowds
Everton have been engaged in fan activation over the summer to try to capitalise on the increased interest in the women’s game. They held an open training season in front of around 1,000 fans at Goodison Park and have been engaged in community projects across the summer. They have increased their content output, including a piece penned by Christiansen highlighting her hopes for a Euro 2022 legacy. Their home games are played at Walton Hall Park, a stadium that Everton have done a lot of work on to make their own.