The Lionesses star was stretchered off in Thursday's Champions League win over St. Polten and her team missed her dearly on Sunday
Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to close the gap to Chelsea in the Women's Super League title race on Sunday, falling to a shocking 2-1 defeat to an Everton team who picked up just their second win of the season. After watching the leaders draw 1-1 with Leicester on Saturday, the Cityzens knew this was a huge chance to put some pressure on at the top, with a win to move them to within just three points. However, a first half defensive horror show proved costly, as goals from Lucy Hope and Honoka Hayashi highlighted just how much City missed the injured Alex Greenwood at the back.
The title chasers thought they had one back just before the break, or at least a penalty, but the officials didn't agree that the ball had crossed the line in a goal-mouth scramble, or that Justin Vanhaevermaet had committed a handball offence when defending the danger. However, it was Everton who continued to carve out the bigger chances, with Toni Payne and Katja Snoeijs both beating City's high line to go one-on-one with Khiara Keating, the former making a poor decision that saw the chance slip away before Keating denied Snoeijs well.
Things quietened down in the second half. As Everton dug in to see out the win, their threat on the counter was reduced, and they had to endure a nervier finish than was needed after Karoline Olsen needlessly gave away a penalty that Mary Fowler emphatically dispatched. But as was the case throughout the game, City struggled to really carve out any meaningful chances to get something from the game, as they slumped to a defeat that leaves them six points behind Chelsea.
GOAL rates Man City's players from Walton Hall Park…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Khiara Keating (4/10):
Was fortunate to see an offside flag cancel out a rash decision to come off her line and give away a penalty. Positioning could've been better for the first goal. Did make a good save to stop Snoeijs making it three just before the break.
Kerstin Casparij (6/10):
That she was City's best defender says more about the low bar she had to clear to get there. Covered well on more than one occasion.
Alanna Kennedy (3/10):
Marking was really poor for Everton's opener and lack of pace was exploited in the second goal. Subbed off at half time.
Laia Aleixandri (4/10):
Did her best to bring something different to the attack to break down Everton's low block, driving forward and getting into the box even when the opportunity presented itself, but struggled to improve issues in the centre of defence and made a few unnecessary mistakes, even.
Leila Ouahabi (5/10):
Was a good outlet going forward and put a few decent crosses into the box, though wasn't particularly strong at the back.
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Yui Hasegawa (5/10):
Is usually dominant in midfield, winning possession back at will and dictating play. That was not the case here.
Jill Roord (5/10):
Made good runs into the box to get on the end of a couple of the openings City carved out, but was denied by a good block and just stretching too much for another opportunity. Was a bit too loose in possession at times.
Jess Park (4/10):
Tried to make things happen but was often stifled by Everton's low block. Not her day.
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Aoba Fujino (6/10):
Was more direct in the second half despite being dropped into right-back. Crosses caused problems and were one of the few things that made a City goal look likely.
Mary Fowler (5/10):
Playing out of position due to injury to Shaw, she struggled to really get involved as she lacked meaningful service. Took a great penalty to get one back, but it was too little, too late.
Laura Blindkilde Brown (4/10):
Saw plenty of the ball but her ability to hurt Everton was restricted by the low block.
Subs & Manager
Lily Murphy (7/10):
On at the break after a sublime full debut in midweek and she continued that momentum with a really positive approach on the left, constantly running at her marker and getting crosses in the box to create chances. A rare bright spark on a disappointing day.
Chloe Kelly (6/10):
Brought a lot of energy to attack, always willing to take on her marker and whip a cross in. Looked like a player with a point to prove.
Laura Coombs (N/A):
Only on for the final 10 minutes.
Gareth Taylor (6/10):
Hard to point the finger at him too much because injuries severely limited his options. Acted quickly enough to remove a struggling Kennedy at half time and his substitutions did make an impact, just not enough to break Everton down and get back into the game.