Saturday’s 3-1 win at Everton included another couple of Goal of the Season contenders, with Katie McCabe and Olivia Smith both finding the back of the net with volleys from distance.
Our head coach will undoubtedly enjoy revisiting them when she analyses the win.
“I’ll have to watch them back,” Renée Slegers said. “I sometimes struggle to remember who scored and what the goals looked like! But if I talk about the football we played today, I think we dominated the game, we dominated possession.
“I think we have some really good purposeful possession in the first half, find space really well. I’m happy we scored two goals in the first half. Again, the second half, the help of the game changers. The starters and finishers, it gave us so much energy and intensity. As for the goals, let me get back to you!”
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One of those finishers was Leah Williamson, who made her long-awaited return from injury by coming on in the 82nd minute at Goodison Park.
“It’s so nice to see her back,” Renée added. “She’s missed a couple of months of football, and we missed her of course as well so it’s good to have her back.
“You could see the reaction of the fans as well, celebrating that she was back and seeing that connection, that was great. I’m happy Leah’s back.
“There’s two more away games left of this calendar year, it’s been so great to share moments with the fans and today, all the way to Everton away, there’s a sold out away section and they’re loud.
“I can’t believe the support we’re getting and it’s great to celebrate moments together with them and I’m happy we get the three points for them today as well.”
With two games left for 2025 – away to OH Leuven in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and away to Crystal Palace in the Subway Women’s League Cup – Renée’s message to the players is clear.
“Two important games left. We set some goals for this block and we’re right on track for what we want to achieve. With the first three games, three wins and now we have to recover and we look forward to Leuven away and do everything we can to end up as high as possible in the table, within our control and then we have the cup game left.
“We’ll have to recover now and look forward to Leuven.”
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