‘Every game is a must-win game’ – Everton’s focus no different this weekend says Kirk | OneFootball

Everton manager Willie Kirk says that this weekend’s fixture against Birmingham City is of the same importance as any other game.

The Blue Girls invested heavily in their playing squad over the summer but they have lost both of their opening two Barclays FA Women’s Super League games against Manchester City and Chelsea.

Everton face a Birmingham City side who suffered a 5-0 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last time out at Walton Hall Park on Saturday. The Blue Girls will be expected to win that match but manager Kirk has played down the importance of that single fixture, claiming that every game is a ‘must-win’ for his side.

“Every game we play this year is going to be important because we don’t want to drop any points,” Kirk said in his pre-match press conference. “When we do drop points, it inevitably adds a little bit of pressure on the next game.

“You are always looking for that first victory of the season but we want a victory in every game that we play. The Birmingham game is no different, it’s a must-win game but we go onto the pitch with the attitude that every game is must-win because we want to make an impression on the league and do as well as possible.

“We will be going into the game planning for three points and working as hard as required to get those three points.”

The Everton squad are in relatively good shape for this weekend, however, Kirk went on to say that there are one or two injury concerns.

He added “There is still quite a bit of uncertainty to be honest because there are players who travelled (from international duty) yesterday.

“I’ve just had a report on a couple of illnesses so we will have to monitor that over the next 24 hours. It is unfair to commit names to that just now but there are a couple of players who will miss training today because they are feeling poorly and we think that it’d be unwise to force them to train today. That’s not helpful.

“There are a couple of players that have got slight knocks from the international break but we will assess them this morning.

“In some good news, Simone Magill is getting closer and closer to a comeback, she won’t be available this weekend but she may be back next weekend. Leonie Maier missed the international break with Germany and has not been able to make her debut yet but she will be in the matchday squad so that is a positive because Leo is a top player and I am looking forward to seeing her in an Everton jersey.

“We pulled Lucy Graham out of the Chelsea game. She has had a reoccurrence of a back injury that she had in pre-season and she remains out.

“We hope that everyone is available other than Si (Magill) and Lucy.”

Everton’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture against Birmingham City at Walton Hall Park kicks-off at 11.30pm on Saturday morning and tickets can be purchased by clicking here.