Brian Sorensen spoke to the media on Friday morning as Everton gear up to host Arsenal at Walton Hall Park this Sunday in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

The Toffees boss first provided an unfortunate update in regards to the fitness of his side set to face the Gunners, as he confirms that their medical room ‘is quite the list again.’

“Yaya [Aurora Galli] unfortunately got injured in the Brighton game so she’s out. Rikke [Madsen] is still not ready. Heather [Payne] is not ready. Emily Ramsey is out. Toni Duggan too. [Katrine] Veje is probably also out – it’s very touch and go for her. Karoline Olesen is also touch and go. Hanna Bennison has been sick but hopefully we’ll get her in. So, we’re back to a long list unfortunately, after it’s been looking brighter, and players were coming back. But that’s how it is.”

Despite the constant berating of injury woes throughout their 2023/24 campaign, Everton have managed to scrape some stellar efforts across the board as they approach the final stages of the season. Sorensen reflected on the season, and how Everton have had to constantly manage risk assessment when battling a full medical tent.

“I think we’ve been consistent with what we’ve been doing. But it’s been a season of this, unfortunately. The week started ok but then they’ve been dropping out a bit too much. But we don’t want to take any risk on players. That’s also the one thing about it – if it was a final of some sort, we would probably patch them together and get something out of them. But we just don’t want to risk anything.”

Everton now turn their attention toward a meeting with Arsenal this coming Sunday at Walton Hall Park. The league’s reverse fixture saw the Gunners secure the three points on the occasion, though the score finished at a hard fought 2-1 margin in Borehamwood.

Sorensen reflected on the performance in North London, whilst also digesting what he expects from Sunday’s opponents.

“At that time, we also had a lot out, but we managed to put a good performance in. We had a bench that could came in and make a difference. If we can get our game plan right and we can make sure that we stay in the game, especially in the first half, we can maybe cause them some trouble.

But we also know that when they start to get the game going, they almost suffocate you then it can be a long 90 minutes. We have to be realistic and try to set the team up for that, but we hope that we can make a good game out of it. It’s home and it’s going to be sold out at Walton Hall Park, so the atmosphere is going to be good. There will be a lot of travelling fans and so on. We will try to make the best out of what we have available and see if we can give them a game.”

As well as the ever-growing list of injury omissions, Everton will also be without Kathrine Kühl this weekend due to the terms of her loan contract with the Gunners. Reflecting on what he has made of the Danish midfielder throughout her time with the Toffees, Sorensen spoke on Kühl’s helpful versatile presence amidst a season of adversity.

“She’s been playing different positions of where we needed in terms of the players, we have available. She’s been playing some games as winger, some as an 8 or 10, and some as a 6. It’s the dynamic we want in our team. We want them to be able to switch positions and fill in spaces- she fits very well into that because she’s good on the ball.

She’s also really good off the ball in terms of her pressing. She has a big engine. So, she’s been settling well. She’s had some opportunities to get goals, but it hasn’t come yet. So, she’s getting herself into those positions, so it’s just finishing.”

Everton will host Arsenal this Sunday in the Barclays Women’s Super League, with play heading underway at 12:30 GMT at Walton Hall Park.