🏏 Sun, 2 Nov 2025 12:00 GMT
Aston Villa Women
vs
Everton Women
Positions estimated (no formation data from the API)
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- Everton bring three Japan internationals to this away trip. Honoka Hayashi, 27, anchors midfield from the start, while the bench holds 22-year-old centre-back Rion Ishikawa, who left Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies for her first overseas move, and 28-year-old left-back Hikaru Kitagawa, signed in summer 2025 after spells at BK Hacken and INAC Kobe Leonessa. The spine of Everton's defensive structure is Japanese.
- Hayashi arrived from West Ham United in summer 2024 and has already delivered on the biggest stage, scoring the goal that ended Chelsea's 34-match unbeaten run. At 157cm she wins the ball and recycles it cleanly rather than overpowering opponents, and how much central space she can close off against Villa's midfield will shape Everton's afternoon.
- Villa's engine room pairs two precocious England-schooled passers. Lucia Kendall, 21, made her senior England debut in October 2025 and was named player of the match on the night after more than 100 appearances for Southampton, while Missy Bo Kearns, 24, became Liverpool's youngest captain at 20 and won the 2023 young player award. Hayashi and Australia's Clare Wheeler, a 2023 World Cup and Paris 2024 midfielder, must screen them.
- Villa's back line and goal are stocked with Arsenal alumni. Ireland's Anna Patten, a 178cm centre-back, came through the Arsenal academy before a spell at Florida State, Switzerland's Noelle Maritz also played for both Arsenal and Wolfsburg, and goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo spent time at the Emirates too. Everton counter with Ruby Mace, another former Arsenal youngster.
- The goalkeeping duel contrasts experience with youth. D'Angelo, 32, won Olympic bronze with Canada at Rio 2016 and was named the penalty shootout MVP when she lifted the NWSL title. Everton's Emily Ramsey, 24, stands 180cm, built her reputation on commanding crosses and shot-stopping, and reached this level via Manchester United and Liverpool.
- Everton's attack runs through Kelly Gago, the 178cm France forward who joined from FC Nantes in December 2024 and has since extended her deal to 2028. Her aerial presence will be tested by Patten and Oceane Deslandes, the France-schooled centre-back who made 66 appearances and scored four goals at Montpellier. On the right, Nigeria's Toni Payne, a 2023 World Cup player with 169 games for Sevilla, offers pace and vision.
- Villa have serious firepower in reserve. Rachel Daly, 33, won the WSL Golden Boot with 22 goals in her first season at the club and was voted PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year, while 24-year-old Ebony Salmon is a Villa academy product who has played in the NWSL with Houston Dash and Racing Louisville. Two late introductions would stretch Everton's back four.
- Everton are deep on the left. Elise Stenevik, a Norway youth international who joined from Eskilstuna United in 2022 and extended in 2024, and Maz Pacheco, a Liverpool and Reading alumna called up by the Philippines in 2024, are both left-footed full-backs, with the left-footed Kitagawa waiting behind them. Attacking that flank is Scotland winger Kirsty Hanson, 42 caps and four goals, whose dribbling and crossing were honed at Manchester United.
- Everton's central defensive pairing is strikingly young at 21 and 22. Martina Fernandez, a left-footed ball-player from Barcelona's cantera who won back-to-back U19 European Championships, signed permanently in summer 2025. Alongside her, England's Ruby Mace arrived from Leicester City for a club-record fee in September 2025 and can operate at centre-back or as a holding midfielder.
- Villa field a Scotland pairing in Mili Taylor and Kirsty Hanson. Taylor, 25, debuted for Chelsea's youth side at 16, later played for Arsenal and Angel City FC in the NWSL, and switched allegiance to Scotland in 2025 with FIFA approval. On the right flank they also have Lynn Wilms, the Netherlands full-back with 56 caps who reached a Champions League final with Wolfsburg.