Liverpool and Everton will face off in the first Women’s Super League Merseyside derby to be staged at Goodison Park on Friday night.
It was a one-sided affair when the two sides met in the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier in the season, with goals from Megan Finnigan, Jess Park and Hanna Bennison helping the Blues to a famous win in front of a crowd of more than 27,000.
Liverpool will be looking to get revenge on their city rivals when they venture across Stanley Park, and the Reds can take plenty of confidence from their morale-boosting win over Tottenham last time out.
Both sides came into the season with different ambitions. For Everton, it was all about creating a discernible on-field identity under new manager Brian Sorensen, while Liverpool's priority was all about consolidating their WSL status after a two-year exile to the Championship.
There are currently six points separating Everton in sixth and Liverpool in eighth but both sides have personnel whose quality could dictate the course of the game. Here's five players to watch out for at Goodison Park.
1. Jess Park
One of the signings of the season, Jess Park has been instrumental to Everton's WSL revival. The Manchester City loanee can play on the wing or drop into midfield and is the Blues' top scorer and top assister this term.
Park's impeccable form at club level earned her a first senior England call-up in the autumn, and she netted her first goal for the Lionesses just 79 seconds after making her debut in a 4-0 victory over Japan.
The 21-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at York City, has been linked with a summer switch to Arsenal and, after notching her first Everton goal in the Merseyside derby at Anfield, she's likely to be central to Everton's attacking play at Goodison Park.
2. Missy Bo Kearns
The scouser in Liverpool's team, Missy Bo Kearns knows exactly what the Merseyside derby means to the Red half of the city.
The 21-year-old was a vital part of the side won the FA Women’s Championship title last season, though it perhaps took her a little bit of time to find her feet in the top-flight. Since the turn of the year though, Kearns has been one of Liverpool's standout performers and has two goals in her last four games for the Reds.
The midfielder has spoken previously about her desire to emulate her childhood hero Steven Gerrard, and showed her credentials as a leader in the team when she became the youngest player to captain LFC Women in November 2021.
3. Gabby George
Everton boast one of the best defensive records in the league, having conceded just 14 goals in as many games, and Gabby George has played a pivotal role in marshalling the Blues' back line.
Typically a central defender, George has been more commonly deployed as a left-wingback under Brian Sorensen; a role she has excelled in. Equally comfortable venturing on buccaneering runs down the wing as she is tracking back to snuff out threats from the opposition, the 26-year-old was unlucky not to have been called up for England's Arnold Clark Cup squad in February.
"Nothing changes," George told MirrorFootball last month. "My aim is always to improve and perform at the club and, if international comes, it comes. Obviously this time around it didn't but it's not going to stop me working hard and trying to get Everton where we want to be and where we should be."
4. Megan Campbell
Defender Megan Campbell has been an ever-present in Liverpool's back line this term and, much like George, provides plenty of attacking impetus from left back.
She joined the Reds in 2021 following a five-year spell at Manchester City, where she won a domestic treble, and has more than 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland. While Campbell's tough tackling approach has added some grit to Liverpool's squad, it's not her defensive nous that Everton will be most worried about when the Reds travel to Goodison Park.
The 29-year-old boasts a long throw that could rival that of Stoke City cult hero Rory Delap, and the Blues will be wary of giving her too many opportunities to launch the ball into the danger zone on Friday night.
5. Fuka Nagano
Joining a new club in the January transfer window can be a challenging prospect, but it's one that Fuka Nagano has effortlessly taken in her stride.
The Japan international arrived at Prenton Park from NWSL side North Carolina Courage and has already established herself as a firm favourite among the Liverpool faithful. Nagano has helped to transform the Reds' midfield, dictating the play from a deep-lying role and giving the likes of Missy Bo Kearns and Ceri Holland a greater license to get forward.
Following Liverpool's win over Tottenham last time out, the 24-year-old was dubbed "the best signing Liverpool Women have ever made" by teammate Leighanne Robe and, if she lives up to that title at Goodison Park, Everton may well have a problem.
