Chelsea Women at Everton, WSL preview: focus all on Emma Hayes

It all still feels a little incomprehensible. Since 2012, there has been one face of Chelsea Women. Now, in just mere months, she will be departing west London for an opportunity elsewhere. As much as most of us all find it difficult to ponder what this club is like without Emma Hayes, there is still a job to do.

The “road to four” (four meaning four trophies) continues on Sunday afternoon in northwest England. Before the west Londoners‘ European campaign kicks off, a battle with Brian Sorensen and 10th place Everton awaits. The Toffees, similar to Aston Villa are not having the start of the season many thought they would.

Seeing a side that outscored them 7-1 in the last two games is not a sight they want to see. To add even more detail to the lopsided history of this fixture, the last time EFC took down CFCW in the WSL was in 2013, Hayes’ first full season in charge.

Despite the dominance, one of the most interesting storylines about this fixture has to be the players response to the news of Hayes’ departure. Mostly everyone, even the young players view the long-time coach as somewhat of a mother figure.

It is reported that the update on Hayes was not distributed to the players until after its 6-0 destruction of Aston Villa. I’m sure, the “do it for Hayes” mentality rings through the entire locker room. It is just going to be about digesting what this means for each of them individually before kick-off in northern England.

Considering how potent up top the Blues were last time out in the west Midlands, don’t expect a lot of changes in the starting XI. Hayes may bring back Zecira Musovic, but why do it at the expense of Ann-Katrin Berger who has done nothing to warrant her move back to the bench? Erin Cuthbert and Sjoeke Nusken alongside each other with Fran Kirby pulling the strings in front caused Villa all sorts of issues last weekend.

In 2022/2023, the side from Liverpool finished in sixth position, a four place improvement from the campaign prior. A lot of that had to do with Sorensen who came to manage the club last offseason from Fortuna Hjorring. That momentum has not led to fast start this season. The pre-season pretty much served as a precursor to what has transpired since.

The club lost three players that sat in the top-six in its most WSL minutes played. Two of those were defensive losses including Gabby George who left for Manchester United in mid-September. That along with the departure of Rikke Sevecke has created a thin defensive unit. Up front, Jess Park, the club’s joint top contributor to goals last season returned to her parent club, Manchester City. Though some interesting signings did come in like Italian Martina Piemonte, Sorensen has yet to put it all together.

Injury-wise, Swedish defender Nathalie Björn, the top minute-getter in the last campaign missed the last league fixture against Tottenham, leaving her status up in the air for Sunday. The first time the Toffees saw one of the “big-four”, their defense was completely shredded. Nikita Parris and Rachel Williams combined for four goals in a 5-0 rout at Walton Hall Park.

Last season when the Blues found the back of the net six times in a match, they ran the same thing back the next week. With this being Hayes’ final few months, no opponent is going to be taken for granted. Villa wasn’t. Each match is meaningful. It signals another step closer to a reality this club has not seen in over a decade.

Chelsea Women vs. Everton predicted starting XI

Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger

Defenders: Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Eve Perisset

Midfielders: Erin Cuthbert, Sjoeke Nusken, Fran Kirby

Forward: Sam Kerr, Lauren James, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd

Chelsea Women vs. Everton match info

Date: Sunday, November 12

Time: 13:00 GMT, 8:00 a.m. EST

TV Broadcast: The FA Player