Everton Women vs Leicester City: WSL Match Preview
Today at 04:00 PM
Wheeler eyeing first league win ahead of international break
Clare Wheeler believes it is really important for Everton Women to get their first WSL win of the season at Leicester City this weekend, with the first international break around the corner.
The Australian star has been one of Brian Sorensen's most consistent players of the campaign so far, and is hoping the hard-working performances of recent weeks will soon yield wins, starting with this Sunday's trip to the King Power Stadium.
The Blues have no new fresh injury concerns ahead of the game against Amandine Miquel's team, meaning Melissa Lawley is in contention for her first competitive start after grabbing the equaliser against West Ham United at Walton Hall Park last week.
And Wheeler is feeling comfortable and ready for the clash, as she explains.
"I just feel more comfortable, into the swing of things and up to the tempo," she said.
"We haven't got the results we wanted in terms of the start of the season, but we know that the season is long and we have put in good performances and we have to make sure that we can translate that to results.
"I'm hoping I can keep my form going and keep helping the girls.
"It's really important to get a win before the international break, as you break up for a week and a half so it is important to end it on a high.
"The table is so close so one win we can really shoot up the table.
"Everyone knows that this is a really important game and we want to come away with three points and nothing less."
The Opposition
Like their weekend visitors, Leicester are also seeking their first league win of the season ahead of the international break.
The league's joint-lowest scorers along with the Toffees, the Foxes will have to find the net without forward Jutta Rantala, who has sustained an injury that will keep her sidelined for at least a few weeks.
Miquel did confirm that Welsh forward Hannah Cain is progressing well and could come back into the squad soon.
Leicester boast a strong defence, marshalled by names such as the experienced Sophie Howard, and have so far ensured that games have been tight and competitive.
A narrow defeat to Arsenal and a draw with Liverpool in their opening two fixtures, Leicester would go on to suffer an upset when WSL newcomers Crystal Palace stunned Miquel's side by recording their first ever league top-flight victory in the division.
A first clean sheet of the season against Aston Villa followed, but the Foxes need to start scoring and quickly if they are to ascend the table.
Previous Meetings
Everton have not registered a win against their weekend hosts in the last three league meetings, with their last win away at Leicester coming in 2021 when Simone Magill's 81st minute striker secured all three points.
Lena Petermann's second half strike settled matters in favour of the hosts last season as the East Midlands' outfit secured a league double over the Blues in the 2023/24 campaign.
Fixtures between the two sides tend to be tight, high tempo affairs with few goals and, with what's at stake, Sunday's encounter could follow a similar pattern.
But with the Toffees posing more attacking options this season, let's hope that can swing things in Everton's favour.
Everton Women face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, 20 October.
Kick-off is at 3pm (BST),
