Everton have registered a third straight home defeat for the first time since April 2019 following their 2-1 loss to Manchester City.
City came into Saturday's game having won all 12 of their Barclays WSL meetings against Everton, the best 100% record one team has against another in the competition's history. While Gareth Taylor's side travelled to Merseyside looking to extend that record and pick up a fifth consecutive WSL win, the hosts took to the field at Walton Hall Park in the hopes of avoiding a third straight home defeat, following disappointing outings against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Brian Sorensen made five changes to the side that fell to a 3-0 defeat against the Red Devils, with goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, fresh from her shootout heroics during the international break, coming in for Courtney Brosnan, and Katja Snoeijs preferred to Aggie Beever-Jones up front. The Danish manager was unable to call on the services of Jess Park, who netted her first England goal on her senior debut last week, with the 21-year-old City loanee ineligible for selection against her parent club.
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It was almost a perfect start for the visitors, with top-scorer Khadija Shaw charging down the left and sliding an inviting ball into the path of Chloe Kelly who was thwarted by the on-rushing Ramsey. Shaw was involved again just minutes later, holding up the ball well on the edge of the 18-yard box before teeing up Julie Blakstad, who nodded wide.
Everton's first chance of the game came after 13 minutes, Aurora Galli dispossessing the City defence in the middle of the park and drilling her shot wide of the post. City had the ball in the back of the net just moments later, but Shaw's tidy effort was ruled out after the Jamaican was adjudged to be offside.
The visitors made their possession count inside 32 minutes, though, Shaw drawing in Ramsey and squaring the ball to Blakstad who coolly rolled the ball into the empty net. While City threatened to double their lead, a rare venture forward secured a corner for Sorensen's side, and Rikke Sevecke bundled the ball home to level things up before half-time.
But Taylor's team restored their lead shortly after the break; Laura Coombs' long-range effort careering off the post and into the path of Shaw, who slotted her eighth goal of the season. And City quickly came close to extending their lead following a series of errors from from Ramsey, who almost turned the ball into her own net.
Everton battled for an equaliser; Aggie Beever-Jones, brought on for Karen Holmgaard, rifling a shot into the side-netting before fellow substitute Gio saw her square ball intercepted as she tried to set up Katja Snoeijs. However, it wasn't to be for Sorensen's side, who remain seventh in the table with the majority of WSL sides still to play on Sunday.
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