Manchester City's quest for the Barclays FA Women's Super League title might be in question after news broke out about head coach Nick Cushing departing in February. Everton, on the other hand, is eager to go out and kick a football after nearly a month without playing a match.
News about head coaches leaving in midseason is never taken lightly and more so if you are talking about one who is leading a team through a major title contention. That is the case for Manchester City as news broke out on January 9 that Cushing will move on to New York City FC as newly appointed manager Ronny Deila's assistant manager. The move will not happen at this moment as it is scheduled for after February 2, the day that City will play its most City's most crucial match of the season against league leaders Arsenal. Assistant coach Alan Mahon will take charge then with eight FA WSL matches and two domestic cups left to play.
At this time, the Citizens are three points behind Arsenal and trail by two goals in goal differential. City will need Ellen White and Pauline Bremer to come up big with goals to stay within reach of Arsenal's goal count. Everton has been sound defensively this season only allowing 11 goals in 11 matches.
The Toffees were denied play last weekend due to a flu outbreak within West Ham United's squad. This added six days more without football to an already 21-day holiday break. Nonetheless, Everton's board kept active during this time bringing in two players that will overhaul the team for the second half of the campaign.
Everton ladies landed 18-month deals for experienced English midfielder Izzy Christiansen and English U-21 national goalkeeper Sandy Maclver. Christiansen, 28, returns to Everton after being away for nearly 10 years having played for Birmingham City, Manchester United and Lyon. Shas capped over 30 times with England and has won many medals throughout her professional career. Manager Willie Kirk hopes that her addition to the team will lift the team.
"She has done a lot of things that some of our young players are trying to achieve and aspire to," wrote king on his everton.com column. "Hopefully she will be an inspiration."
Maclver, on the other hand, is a promising talent who graduated from Clemson. Kirk is very interested in the 21-year-old goalkeeper and rates her highly.
"A number of clubs would have wanted to sign Sandy," according to Kirk. "She is a top up-and-coming goalkeeper who, in my mind, will be England's No.1 in the future."
Blues' defender, Esme Morgan, who has featured in eight matches for the Toffees this season, will sit out for the game since City is her parent club.
Everton's lack of play would make you think that it will have a negative effect on the players, but Everton's manager Willie Kirk disagrees saying that her team is "raring to go" and ready to take on City. We'll be able to tell on Saturday.
Kick-off time: Saturday, January 11 at 12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. BST / 6:30 p.m. CET
Stadium: Academy Stadium (Manchester)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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