Everton Ladies are yet to find a successor to Jean-Luc Vasseur, who departed the club last month, so interim manager Chris Roberts will continue to manage the team on Sunday, when they welcome Aston Villa Women to Walton Hall Park.

Both sides need to improve their form, with the Toffees recording just one win in their last six matches across all competitions, while Villa have also just won once since the beginning of December.

Match preview

Everton have not managed to collect three points in the Women's Super League since November, and they were left disappointed last weekend, when they were defeated 2-1 by Reading.

Anna Anvegard gave Roberts's side an early fifth-minute lead in that match, but after Izzy Christiansen missed a penalty just after half time, the Royals went on to turn the game around, netting an 88th-minute winner through youngster Tia Primmer.

The Toffees are currently sitting 10th in the table, and they will want to make Walton Hall Park more of a fortress during the back end of this campaign, having only won in front of their own fans once so far.

Everton have only scored 10 goals in their 12 matches, and Sunday may present a good opportunity to increase that stat, with Villa's defence showing weaknesses this campaign.

Carla Ward's side have not kept a clean sheet in the WSL since November, and their defence was undone on two occasions last weekend, when they fell to a 2-1 loss against West Ham United.

Alisha Lehmann managed to pull her side level heading into the break, but an early second-half goal for the visitors was enough to send the three points to East London, despite Villa seemingly creating enough chances to score a few more.

With relegation unlikely for both of these sides, as Everton sit seven points above bottom side Birmingham City, with Villa two points clear of the Toffees, these two teams are now playing for pride this season, most likely looking to build for next year already.

Villa have been stronger on their travels during this campaign, picking up seven more points on the road than they have managed on their own patch, suggesting that they will be looking to attack the game in Merseyside, going for all three points.

This is the first meeting between Everton and Villa this season, while the second encounter will be their first game back after the international break at the beginning of March.

Team News

Everton's Toni Duggan made her first WSL start since December last time out, and she is likely to retain her place in the side, with Kenza Dali and Claire Emslie also making up the attacking midfield trio.

Right-back Leonie Maier came back into the team against Reading also, while the back four will also include Nathalie Bjorn, Gabrielle George and Danielle Turner.

Anvergard's strike against Reading was her second league goal of the campaign, and she will want to add to her tally, potentially from her number nine role leading the line for the hosts.

Villa will set up in their favoured 4-3-3 formation, with Emily Gielnik expected to start in the middle of the front three, having made her first appearance since 19 December last time out.

Jill Scott made her league debut for the club in that defeat last weekend also, and she will start in midfield alongside Remi Allen and Ruesha Littlejohn.

Everton Ladies possible starting lineup:
MacIver; Turner, George, Bjorn, Maier; Christiansen, Galli; Duggan, Dali, Emslie; Anvegard

Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Pacheco, Asante, Patten, Mayling; Allen, Scott, Littlejohn; Petzelberger, Gielnik, Lehmann

We say: Everton Ladies 1-1 Aston Villa Women

Roberts will be desperate for his side to get back to winning ways in the WSL this weekend, and with Villa's leaky defence there is likely to be an opportunity to get on the scoresheet.

However, Villa have demonstrated that they hold an attacking threat themselves, and they are unlikely to come away from Walton Hall Park without having created any chances, which is why these two teams are expected to cancel each other out.

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