Everton 3-4 Manchester City: WSL rivals produce pre-season thriller

Manchester City beat Everton 4-3 in a pre-season friendly as both teams gear up for the new Women's Super League season.

Gareth Taylor's side travelled to Walton Hall Park where Mary Fowler, Ruby Mace and Esme Morgan registered goals in a hard-fought win for City.

It was a back-and-forth affair with City showing plenty of energy and a high press, which allowed them to storm into a 2-1 lead.

But Everton were able to fight back and score twice more in the second half to edge ahead in the match before goals from Morgan and Fowler sealed the win on a hot afternoon.

It was a valuable 90 minutes for both sides and Taylor will be hoping to guide his team towards the top of the table after finishing 11 points behind WSL winners Chelsea in 2022-23.

Khadija Shaw was able to get some more valuable minutes in her legs and could have had a goal were it not for some resolute defending from Everton.

Brian Sorensen commanded the Merseysiders to a respectable sixth last term but fell short whenever they came up against any of the big guns.

They ran City close twice in the league and looked at the races against the powerhouses on Saturday, despite suffering defeat.

Sorensen's side had to dig in and battle after taking the lead through Martina Piemonte's precise header before City scored twice to lead.

The Toffees refused to give up and scored a quick double to make it 3-2 thanks to a brace from substitute Nicoline Sorensen.

A late flurry from the visitors gave them the win, but Everton can take pleasure in knowing that they can compete with one of the WSL's dominant forces.