Everton’s relegation fight in the Women’s Super League (WSL) continues to be a struggle, as they drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace in a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash. The game at the VBS Community Stadium was a microcosm of Everton’s ongoing woes this season. Within the opening minute, Palace’s My Cato launched a pass to Indiah-Paige Riley, who was left unmarked in the box and slotted the ball home. It was a defensive lapse that symbolized much of Everton’s season so far once again, they were caught out early, a theme that has plagued them in recent weeks.
This was the fifth time in seven WSL matches that Everton had conceded within the first 15 minutes, four of those goals coming in the opening eight minutes. While conceding early against powerhouse teams like Chelsea or Manchester United can be forgiven to some extent, Everton’s vulnerability against relegation rivals like Leicester, West Ham, and now Palace raises serious concerns. The fact that they only managed a draw against a newly-promoted Palace side, who were unlucky not to secure their second win of the season, will feel more like a missed opportunity than a point gained.
Palace, despite their struggles, were more organized in their defensive approach and had the better chances throughout the game. Everton, on the other hand, lacked cohesion and creativity in attack. It wasn’t until the 71st minute that they managed to pull level, when Honoka Hayashi’s header found the back of the net, capitalizing on Palace’s defensive lapse. However, this equalizer did little to ease the growing pressure on Everton, who are now firmly entrenched in the relegation battle.
Looking at the broader picture, Everton’s struggles are indicative of the intense competition at the bottom of the WSL this season. The relegation fight is particularly tight, with no clear “cannon fodder” teams to rely on. Last season, Bristol City occupied the bottom spot, offering a degree of safety to the teams above them. Similarly, Reading’s woes the year before had allowed other clubs some breathing room. However, this season, the situation is different. Crystal Palace, despite being a new team in the WSL, have shown resilience and are making it difficult for teams to pull away from the relegation zone.
West Ham, also in a precarious position, claimed their first win of the season in a 2-0 victory over Leicester, which saw them climb level with Palace and Leicester on five points. The win was much-needed, and it came through two well-executed goals. The first came from Viviane Asseyi in added time at the end of the first half, and the second was a beautifully crafted move, with Manuela Pavi playing a perfectly weighted through ball for Asseyi, who rounded the keeper and slotted home. West Ham, with their dominance in the match, now have the opportunity to build on this win and potentially distance themselves from the relegation zone as they approach more favorable fixtures.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa managed a goalless draw at Manchester United, a result that lifted them off the bottom spot, surpassing Everton on goal difference. Villa, like Everton, are still without a win, but the point was crucial as they try to avoid slipping further into the relegation battle. Both teams will need to significantly improve if they are to survive the cutthroat competition at the bottom.
With only six points separating sixth and 12th place, the relegation picture remains fluid. Everton, West Ham, and Palace now face crucial fixtures ahead of the winter break, and these matches could prove pivotal in determining their fate. Leicester, with a tough run of fixtures, will be hoping for a few unexpected points before Christmas, as they face the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea. Everton, for their part, have a difficult run of games against Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester City before they face Villa, West Ham, and Leicester in the new year. These matches are all must-win for Everton if they are to stand a chance of staying up.
As things stand, the WSL’s relegation battle looks set to be one of the most compelling in recent years. With no team able to fully distance themselves from the drop zone, every point is crucial, and the bottom sides will be watching each other’s results closely. Everton, in particular, have little room for error, and their next few games will be critical in determining whether they can turn their season around or face the drop.
