It was back in September 2021 when Izzy Chistiansen allowed herself to dream and offered an insight into what Everton Women were aiming for.
“We have got really high aspirations. We want to qualify for the Champions League and we want to take this club back up to where it belongs,” she told the ECHO.
“We’ve got the management and we have got the players to do that and it is over to us as players. Like I said, I’m a player who thrives and relishes that kind of pressure. I love it and I can’t wait to see how we do this season.”
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Before she continued: “I love the pressure and I love the competition and when you have got the right mentality, the competition doesn't faze you.
“I want this club to be at the top of the league. I want this club to be where we belong. I want this club to achieve amazing things. I want us to be in the Champions League and I don’t care if I am playing or not - I just want this club to be where it wants to be.”
At the time, it was easy to see why optimism was high. Nine new signings had been made by the Blues following some much-needed investment.
Everton won all six of their pre-season friendlies and were aiming to whittle down a 16-point gap to the previous season's top three. However, things certainly didn’t go to plan.
Just over a month into the campaign, and manager Willie Kirk was gone. The Blues announced the departure of Kirk after a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal left them with six points from five games going into the October international break.
Later that month, and to the excitement of all at the club, Jean-Luc Vasseur was named Everton's new manager. A Champions League-winning boss with Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and the 2020 recipient of FIFA’s World Women’s Coach of the Year award, Frenchman Vasseur joined with a glittering CV.
But after just 10 games in charge, Vasseur was sacked. Expected to move Everton up the table, he managed just one win in six league games and departed with the team third-bottom of the Women’s Super League.
Chris Roberts and Claire Ditchburn were placed in caretaker charge and managed to ensure the Blues retained their WSL status. Everton eventually finished nine points above relegated Birmingham City.
However, the season was nothing short of a disaster, with plenty questioning the direction in which the club were heading. Things needed to change, and they did.
Brian Sorensen was the man selected to lead the club moving forward. The 41-year-old joined from Fortuna Hjorring, where during two stints at the Danish club, he won two league titles, a domestic cup and established Fortuna as regulars in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Sorensen’s CV also includes a further two domestic cup triumphs during spells with Danish sides IK Skovbakken and FC Nordsjaelland. He arrived at Finch Farm with a reputation for developing young talent and forming tight-knit squads, founded on supportive and driven cultures.
Another summer overhaul was then completed by the Blues. Ten players arrived at the club as Sorensen looked to ensure the mistakes of last season were not repeated.
And although the Everton kicked off their WSL campaign with a disappointing defeat to West Ham United, they responded in the best way possible against Liverpool here.
Everton travelling across Stanley Park to Anfield always leaves Blues supporters nervous no matter what the occasion. But for Sorensen, the last thing he wanted was a second straight defeat.
However, come full-time at Anfield, he was celebrating his first WSL win as Everton boss. His side were simply superb in front of a record women’s attendance at Anfield.
Jess Park was a constant threat down the right, and deservedly got her name on the scoresheet, while Christiansen dominated the midfield in the opening 45 minutes. Megan Finnigan headed the Blues ahead before Park added a second with a composed finish in front of the Kop.
And for those Blues supporters, either at Anfield or watching from home, expecting a nervy second half, were very much mistaken. The only disappointing thing for Sorensen here will be his side didn’t score more.
And after going close on a number of occasions, the Blues eventually sealed all three points when the excellent Park released Hanna Bennison, who finished via the aid of deflection into the bottom corner of the net.
It was nothing more than Everton deserved. Wins over Liverpool don’t come along very often, and because of that they should be treasured at every opportunity, which is exactly what Sorensen and his players did in front of the travelling Blues at full-time.
Talk of Champions League still seems extremely premature at this stage, but on this evidence, there is no reason why Everton can’t use this victory as a springboard to build a much brighter future for the club, with the nightmares of last season a distant memory.
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