3 W, 1 Week

December 13, 2025

Goodison Park, Liverpool

Before December, Brian Sørensen’s Everton had not tasted victory in the WSL since the opening-weekend Merseyside derby. That context lent weight—and disbelief—to their recent 1–0 win over Chelsea at Kingsmeadow, a result that ended the champions’ 34-game unbeaten run. It was no isolated act of rebellion either: a week earlier Everton had dispatched Newcastle United 3–1 away in the League Cup. Momentum, if fragile, had begun to gather.

Yet Goodison Park belonged to Arsenal from the outset. “North London Forever” drifted across hostile ground, lending the afternoon the odd sensation of an away match played to home acoustics. Rene Slenger’s side settled quickly, circulating the ball with composure and occupying Everton’s half. The hosts responded by retreating, assembling deep defensive lines and shielding the penalty area.

The first incision came in the eighth minute. Kim Little’s delivery from the left found Beth Mead, whose glancing header towards the far post was turned away by the goalkeeper. Arsenal’s pressure tightened. Lotte Wubben-Moy stepped forward to find Alessia Russo, who drove through the centre, shrugging off three defenders before releasing Mariona Caldentey. Her shot was saved, the clearance fell to Katie McCabe, and from distance she unleashed an extraordinary strike that tore into the net. It was an impossible shot, made inevitable by Arsenal’s insistence.

Everton answered immediately. Arsenal faltered in possession, the ball was stolen high, and Yuka Hayashi met it with a thunderous effort from outside the box. Another impossible shot. Two goals of rare quality in two breathless minutes.

The tempo scarcely relented. From the restart, Emily Fox crossed into the area, the ball ricocheted between Little and Russo, and was forced over the line—eventually credited to Russo, her 51st WSL goal. Three goals in five minutes, the match already incandescent.

After that ferocity, control returned to Arsenal. Russo struck the bar, Caitlin Foord and Mead probed, but Everton offered little beyond their moment of brilliance. Substitutions—Blackstenius and Smith for Mead and Little—signalled intent rather than caution. In the 87th minute, Olivia Smith confirmed the outcome with another long-range finish, minimal backlift, unerring precision.

The final act belonged to Leah Williamson, returning from injury to a rapturous reception. Arsenal left Merseyside with authority restored. As Slenger later remarked, they were, once again, “right on track for what we want to achieve.”

Everton 1 – 3 Arsenal 

(K. McCabe 11’, H. Hayashi 13’, A. Russo 15’, O. Smith 87’)