Brian Sorensen reveals what Everton have been working on in training ahead of Manchester City clash | OneFootball

DAGENHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Brian Sorensen, Manager of Everton looks on prior to the FA Women’s Super League match between West Ham United and Everton FC at Chigwell Construction Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Dagenham, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Brian Sorensen says his Everton side are all set to face second-placed Manchester City in the Women’s Super League on Sunday.

And he’s confident they can spring a surprise.

The Toffees’ last win in the league came on the opening day of the season, when they beat local rivals Liverpool 4-1.

But Sorensen says that his players know what they need to do.

“We don’t fear City,” he told a press conference on Thursday morning. “We’ve played them often and it’s been a one-goal difference in I don’t know how many games back here when I’ve been with them. 

“So it’s a team that we know we can – if we get everything right – we can do something.

“But defensively, we have to sharpen up. We’ve been leaking a bit too easily. That’s been the focus this week, make sure that we are tight at the back because we know the other way we will create something and we will have a chance to.”

The Women’s Super League: fine margins

Everton have conceded 14 goals in the league so far this season – more than any other team barring London City Lionesses and bottom-of-the-table West Ham United.

But they’ve also scored 10 – more than any other team outside the top three except for Arsenal.

And Sorensen knows his team can’t afford to keep gifting chances to the opposition.

“This league: it’s the very fine margins and if you give goals away, you’re in trouble.

“That’s been a bit of the story of our season is that we, in key moments, let ourselves down, and if we want a chance to get a result on Sunday, we can’t do that. We have to be tight and focused and ruthless in that defence.”

Brian Sorensen: I can see the progress

But Sorensen dismissed the idea that he might be frustrated with his team’s season so far.

“I look back to get better and to do my research and my analysis of it,” he said, “but I don’t use energy on what has happened because it’s happened and it’s history.

“There is the key points we can learn from. We will take the learnings and then of course also, which is super important, focusing on the stuff that actually has been good.

“For me, it’s been key moments that we let ourselves down as a collective and for various reasons, and this, of course, plays into it because everything that you want in the team is consistency and we had the polar opposite of it.

“I’m not saying I’m happy where we are, but we are where we are and we have to work out from there and make sure that we get better. I can see the progress, I can see the girls are committed at training, they are buying into what we want to do and then that’s enough for me to know that we are on the right direction,”