Everton Women 0-5 Man Utd - Sun 22nd Oct 2023

Everton were dealt their third league defeat of the season as Manchester United ran out 5-0 winners at Walton Hall Park on Sunday afternoon.

After getting off the mark for the season during last week's Merseyside derby win, the Blues faced a United side clearly eager to bounce back from their midweek Champions League disappointment.

Melvine Malard headed the visitors in front after 14 minutes, but the Toffees grew into the half and were perhaps unfortunate not to be level heading into the break.

However, ruthlessness from United saw them extend their lead thanks to braces from Nikita Parris and Rachel Williams.

Brian Sorensen made two changes from the side that started at Anfield, with Katja Snoeijs coming in for her first start of the season. Clare Wheeler - who came in early last week for the injured Lucy Hope - started from the off.

The opening minutes brought little action with few chances for both sides with the first real chance coming five minutes in courtesy of a Malard shot saved by Courtney Brosnan. The away side settled quickly with attacking onslaughts that Everton defended resolutely.

Everton's first real chance came on 12 minutes, Nicoline Sorensen played through on goal with just Mary Earps to beat, but her effort arrived over the bar.

It was United who struck first.

An astute header from France international Malard beat Brosnan to give Marc Skinner's side the lead.

Two late chances in the first half almost put the Blues back level.

The first was a shot from range by Hanna Bennison who forced Earps to tip the ball over the bar.

The second saw Sorensen intercept Earps' pass and shoot powerfully towards the bottom corner. The England international dropping low to push her effort wide.

United almost doubled their advantage before the break had it not been for Brosnan's heroics, diving to gather a powerful effort.

Despite the positive showing in the first half, Everton began to fade as United took control.

Katie Zelem's dangerous ball into the area was met by former Blues forward Parris who headed in her side's second on 58 minutes.

Not to be disheartened, the hosts continued to push for a goal. A flurry of chances in the United box followed by a powerful effort produced Katrine Veje arriving wide being the best opportunities for Everton to pull a goal back.

However, United were clinical and began to extend their lead.

Parris turned provider, disposing Veje to play the ball to Williams who tapped in past Brosnan on 77 minutes.

Eight minutes later it was four nil, Williams nodding home her second of the afternoon.

United's fifth and final goal came in added time.

Despite an initial strong save from Brosnan, Parris found the rebound to finish into the Everton net once more.

The Toffees return after the international break with a trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 5 November.

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