Preview: Everton Ladies vs. Reading Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Jean-Luc Vasseur's short reign as manager of Everton Ladies ended this week, so the currently managerless Toffees welcome Reading Women to Walton Hall Park under the interim charge of Chris Roberts and Claire Ditchburn.

In contrast, another strong month for the Royals has seen Kelly Chambers nominated for the manager of the month award for January, and they enter this match full of confidence.

Match preview

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Everton only managed one win in Vasseur's six WSL games in the dugout, but the Frenchman did end his time on Merseyside with a positive 4-0 win in the League Cup against Huddersfield Town.

However, last time out in the league two weeks ago, the Toffees fell to a 3-0 defeat against West Ham United, which left them sitting 10th in the table and six points behind the Hammers, as a small gap begins to open up in the middle of the division.

The bottom four teams in the WSL are the lowest scorers in the top flight, and Everton have only managed to find the back of the net on nine occasions, going six games out of 11 without drawing a blank in front of goal.

Everton have only won once at Walton Hall Park in the league this season, and that victory came back in September, meaning that they will need to turn their form around on home soil if they are to climb the table for a better mid-table finish.

Reading started this campaign poorly, losing their first four matches, but since then they have put together a seven-game unbeaten run in the league, and only lost once in their last 11 outings across all competitions.

Chambers's side will have been further boosted by progressing in the FA Cup last weekend, coming out on the right side of a 3-2 scoreline against Brighton & Hove Albion, with youngster Tia Primmer scoring her first senior goal and the winning strike seven minutes from time.

Another five-goal thriller occurred in their last WSL match against Birmingham City, with the Royals having to come from 2-0 down to claim all three points with a 3-2 win, thanks to goals from Justine Vanhaevermaet, Natasha Dowie and Emma Harries.

Their last two results suggests that there will be plenty of goals at Walton Hall Park this weekend, but Chambers will be keen for her side to keep a clean sheet after conceding four in the last two weeks, having not conceded for 270 minutes in the WSL prior to that.

Everton will take confidence from the last meeting between these two sides, having beaten the Royals 3-0 in October, courtesy of first-half goals from Anna Anvegard, Claire Emslie and Danielle Turner.

Team News

Everton are expected to operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Valerie Gauvin expected to lead the line, looking to open her WSL account this season, having not found the back of the net in her nine appearances.

Right-winger Nicoline Sorensen has not featured since September due to injury, and she will continue to be sidelined for the Toffees; most likely for the rest of the season also.

Nathalie Bjorn could come into the starting lineup, in place of Rikke Sevecke, who started the last league match against West Ham, and the former will be joined by Gabrielle George, Poppy Pattinson and Turner in the back four.

Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney was forced off just before half time due to injury against Birmingham, and so Rhiannon Stewart is expected to continue between the posts for the visitors.

Rachel Rowe continues to be absent for Reading, having not played since October, while midfielder Vanhaevermaet is likely to drop into the defensive line alongside centre-back Gemma Evans.

Deanne Rose and Dowie will lead the line for Reading, with Harries and Amalie Eikeland also providing an attacking threat from wide areas, with 12 goals between the attacking quartet.

Everton Ladies possible starting lineup:

MacIver; Pattinson, George, Bjorn, Turner; Galli, Christiansen; Dali, Bennison, Anvegard; Gauvin

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Stewart; Woodham, Evans, Vanhaevermaet, Bryson; Eikeland, Harding, Troelsgaard, Harries; Dowie, Rose

We say: Everton Ladies 1-2 Reading Women

Everton may be lifted under the interim management of Chris Roberts and Claire Ditchburn, which is why the home side could better their recent WSL performances and get on the scoresheet this weekend.

However, Reading are in good form and their confidence is sky high at the moment, which should be enough to help them collect three points on Sunday.