In his latest column, Everton Women's manager Willie Kirk discusses the detailed work he has been doing on the training pitch during the international break and urges Everton fans to back the Blues in numbers when his team face city rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday 17 November (3pm)...

FINE TUNING

A number of the players have gone off on international duty this week, and it’s fantastic to see so many of them receive that recognition from their countries.

It gives you a chance to work a little bit more in detail with the players that are here, though. Training has been very good this week.

>>>>SECURE YOUR PLACE IN THE AWAY END FOR THE FIRST-EVER WOMEN'S MERSEYSIDE DERBY AT ANFIELD. ADULT TICKETS ARE JUST £5 WHILE UNDER-17S GO FREE*<<<<

Collectively, we were disappointed by the performance and result against Manchester United [a 3-0 Continental Cup defeat] last Sunday.

We didn’t exert enough control in the game. Improving technical aspects - such as making the right pass at the right time and gaining territory - can help you gain that control. If you’re not getting those bits right, it’s going to cause you problems elsewhere on the pitch.

We have done our analysis on the United game now, though, and all we can do is learn from it.

We need to move on.

PERFECT CHANCE TO RESPOND

We’ve got a huge game next Sunday against Liverpool – the first-ever Merseyside derby to take place at Anfield.

The players are excited, the staff are excited, the Club is excited. These are the games players want to play in.

When the whole group are back together next week, the players will realise there are places to be won. Everybody wants to be part of this.

Not everybody will be involved - in terms of playing ­on the day - but everyone must appreciate the role they will have, be that on the field or off it.

It’s an exciting occasion and we’re eager to make it an extra-special one by coming out on top.

FOND MEMORIES

My first game in charge of Everton was a Merseyside derby last December. We won the game 2-1 and scored two brilliant goals through Inessa Kaagman and Simone Magill.

That game is a relevant reference point for us. As a coaching staff, we will be using that match to remind the players that - regardless of form - it is a Merseyside derby and anything can happen.

We were bottom of the table last year and we won the derby. Liverpool are at the bottom just now so we know we have to turn up on the day and perform.

Also, the players who are still here from last season will remember the buzz they got from that victory. We’ll be trying to replicate that on Sunday.

EVERTONIANS’ BACKING VITAL

We have got an allocation of almost 2,500 for the game and it would be huge for us to have a strong following of Evertonians at Anfield.

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We’re going to be outnumbered, obviously. I think there will be a crowd of upwards of 20,000 at the game.

If there is a crowd like that, then we need as many Everton fans as possible in that away section making their voices heard. We want to have 2,500 vocal blue noses. We need Everton fans to snap up that allocation.

If we can get 2,500 fans there, that will go some way to motivating us on the pitch, feeling we have that backing of Evertonians, and ensuring we put in a strong performance.

If you’re an Everton fan, if you can get yourself along, it could go a long way to helping us mark the first women’s derby at Anfield in the best way possible – with an Everton win.

*Under-17s go free if accompanied by an adult.