Everton Ladies to kick off season with Merseyside Derby

What a way to be welcomed back to the Women’s Super League 1 for the Everton Ladies team! The WSL 1 schedule has been unveiled and the first question on everyone’s minds is.. can Everton beat Liverpool this season?

You’re in luck because you only have to wait until September 22nd to find out. The Everton Ladies schedule was just released and it has a revealed an exciting Merseyside Derby as the first game of the season. No word yet on how to watch the game, but some WSL1 games are shown on team Facebook pages, which would prove to be very convenient for fans around the world.

Everton were crowned WSL 2 Spring Series champions, which brought them back to FA WSL 1 status and this summer has seen the Ladies team transitioning many players to full-time status.

With more money coming to the club from new leadership under Farhad Moshiri, one wonders how much will be funneled to the Ladies team especially since the salaries of female footballers are not as publicly known as those of male players. But, there have been some promising new additions to the squad, including Dutch internationals Siri Worm and Marthe Munstermann, Wales midfielder Angharad James and England youth international Lizzie Durack.

Everton Ladies have a lot to prove this season. After being relegated to the WSL2 in 2014, they were brought up to the WSL1 for the 2017-18 season after a spot opened up because the Notts County team liquidated.

Many of England’s international players play for teams like Manchester City and Chelsea. A few of USA’s top women players have enjoyed WSL1 stints as well, including Carli Lloyd to Manchester City, Heather O’Reilly to Arsenal, and Crystal Dunn to Chelsea. Is a superstar signing in the cards for Everton Ladies?

That’s not to slight the current roster at all, which is full of talent. Gabby George employs wonderful defense and skipper Michelle Hinnigan brings a great mixture of experience and focus to the team. But the Liverpool Ladies will prove to be a very tough opponent. Their roster boasts of England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain and dynamic Netherlands winger Shanice Van De Sanden, who recently helped her international team win glory in the UEFA Women's European Championship.

England International Toni Duggan started her playing career at Everton. By moving their Ladies team to full-time status, Everton have shown that they are serious about making their claim as a dominating force in the WSL1 and in the world of football in general. By investing in their players, it could allow someone of Duggan’s quality to stay at Everton in the future. In the meantime, let’s cheer on Everton as they beat Liverpool on September 22nd and then again on April 27th.

Here is the season schedule in full, and keep it here on Royal Blue Mersey as we will keep you posted on the Ladies’ team’s progress.

Everton Ladies WSL 1 2017/18 fixtures: (all times local)

Fri 22 September - Liverpool Ladies (H) 4pm

Sun 1 October - Birmingham City Ladies (a) 2pm

Sat 7 October - Manchester City Women (H) 7pm

Sun 29 October - Arsenal Ladies (H) 2pm

Sat 11 November - Yeovil Town Ladies (a) 3pm

Sun 10 December - Sunderland Ladies AFC (H) 2pm

Sat 6 January - Bristol City Women (a) 5.30pm

Sun 28 January - Chelsea Ladies (a) 2pm

Sun 11 February - Reading Women (H) 2pm

Fri 23 February - Arsenal Ladies (a) 7.30pm

Sun 25 March - Yeovil Town (H) 2pm

Wed 28 March - Sunderland Ladies AFC (a) 7pm

Sun 1 April - Bristol City Women (H) 2pm

Wed 18 April - Chelsea Ladies (H) 7pm

Sun 22 April - Reading Women (a) 2pm

Fri 27 April - Liverpool Ladies (a) 7pm

Sun 13 May - Birmingham City Ladies (H) 2pm

Sun 20 May - Manchester City Women (a) 2pm

This article was written by Rachel Rose Gold, who is a writer based in Philadelphia. She loves women's soccer and started playing when she was five years old. Her favorite Everton player is Leighton Baines. Rachel will be joining the Royal Blue Mersey team, covering the progress of the Everton Ladies team throughout the season.