Ladies ready for Everton test: Match preview
Liverpool Ladies midfielder Caroline Weir admits she can't wait for her first Merseyside derby as the Reds take on Everton Ladies in the Continental Cup on Saturday afternoon at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes.
The tie with the Blues kicks off at 4pm BST and has to be decided on the day, with extra-time and penalties if necessary.
Liverpool have won just two of eight games so far in the Women's Super League 1 but have shown signs of improvement either side of the mid-season break by holding leaders Manchester City to two draws.
Sunday's 1-1 draw saw Rosie White become the first player to score against City in the league this season and midfielder Weir insists her side must now keep the momentum up.
“We had a tough start to the season and it took us a little bit of time to gel but that's going to happen with so many new players,” she said.
“We are only going to get better as the season goes on. I think we've surprised a couple of teams already.
“Past games don't really matter when it's a derby, and I'm really excited to play in my first one against Everton with Liverpool – there's a huge rivalry there.
“We're all looking forward to it but we know how tough a game it's going to be, no matter what league we're in.
“I like the new cup format, it feels like more of a cup competition with the knockouts and makes it a bit more exciting – we really want to do well.”
View from the opposition
Simone Magill believes victory over Merseyside rivals Liverpool would kickstart Everton's season.
The Toffees' return to action after the month-long break ended on a low note last weekend after Charlotte Kerr's brilliant winner sent all three points Watford's way in Women's Super League 2.
Prior to that result Everton had not lost since March – a run that extended through six games – and they now have a chance to right some wrongs in Widnes against familiar foes, having bolstered their squad with the signings of forwards Rosella Ayane and Chloe Kelly on Thursday.
The last time the two sides clashed was in the Continental Cup last year, with Natasha Dowie scoring a double in a 2-0 Liverpool victory.
But Northern Ireland striker Magill says her side will be looking to avenge that defeat with a win that could have a knock-on effect and boost their promotion campaign in WSL 2.
“There's always more of an incentive when it's Liverpool. These derby games are the ones you look forward to playing in,” said Magill, whose side are currently third in the league.
“They are the big games and some of our girls won't have played in them before, but it's a big occasion.
“With them in WSL 1 and us in WSL 2, it would be a massive boost to get something from the game. It would be a massive confidence boost for us to take into the league, which is our main focus of the season.
“I would say [to new players] to focus on the game not on the occasion, it's a great experience, it's something I looked forward to when I joined the club.”
Last time out
Liverpool went ahead in the opening minute against the Blues in the same competition last year, Dowie latching onto a backpass to round goalkeeper Kirstie Levell and net from yards out.
The No.9 could have had a first-half hat-trick with multiple efforts before the break, and White was denied by Levell after being slipped through by Martha Harris.
Everton hit the post through captain Michelle Hinnigan and were then unfortunate not to score from an Amy Turner set-piece.
Dowie doubled the lead when Lucy Staniforth's effort was rebounded into her path, and Liverpool went all the way to the semi-finals of the competition.