Everton W vs Leicester City WFC: FA WSL Match Preview

On 16 May 2026, the old stands of Goodison Park in Liverpool will frame a tense FA WSL afternoon as Everton W host Leicester City WFC in a match heavy with consequence at both ends of the table. For Everton W, it is a chance to put a stamp on a difficult campaign and secure mid-table safety; for Leicester City WFC, marooned at the bottom, it is about clinging to hope and avoiding the full force of the relegation trap.

Season Context

Everton W arrive in this fixture sitting 8th with 20 points from 20 matches, having scored 24 goals and conceded 36. The negative goal difference (-12) underlines a side that has often been competitive but porous, yet their points tally gives them a buffer from the very bottom and a platform to finish the calendar strongly if they can turn Goodison Park into an asset.

Leicester City WFC travel to Liverpool in deep trouble, 12th in the standings and firmly in the “Relegation Playoffs” zone with just 9 points from 21 games. An attack that has produced only 11 goals and a defence that has shipped 51 (goal difference -40) tells the story of a team struggling badly at both ends, with every remaining match now a survival battle rather than a free hit.

Form & Momentum

Everton W’s recent league form reads exactly "LLLWW", a sequence that captures a sharp swing from vulnerability to revival. Three straight defeats were followed by back-to-back wins, suggesting a side rediscovering resilience and cutting edge (24 goals from 20 league games, 1.2 per match, but 36 conceded at 1.8 per match). That uptick, combined with a league comparison edge in attack (70% attacking index in the model), hints at a team trending upward at the right time.

Leicester City WFC’s form string is a stark "LLLLL", a brutal run of five consecutive defeats that aligns with their season-long issues (11 goals scored and 51 conceded across 21 matches, averaging just 0.5 goals for and 2.4 against per game). The predictions model rates their last-five attacking index at only 21% and defensive index at 0%, underlining a side in freefall that has been consistently outgunned and unable to stabilise at the back.

Head-to-Head Patterns

The recent history between these sides in the FA WSL has rarely been dull. On 5 October 2025, they shared the points in a 1-1 draw at King Power Stadium (1-1 (FA WSL, season 2025, October 2025)), a tight contest that reflected Leicester City WFC’s capacity to scrap at home even in a difficult year.

Earlier that calendar year, Everton W delivered a statement performance at Walton Hall Park on 2 February 2025, overpowering Leicester City WFC in a convincing home victory (4-1 (FA WSL, season 2024, February 2025)). That match showcased Everton W’s ability to punish defensive frailty when their attacking patterns click.

Leicester City WFC have also enjoyed their moments, notably on 20 October 2024 at King Power Stadium, where they edged Everton W in a narrow home success (1-0 (FA WSL, season 2024, October 2024)). That result underlined their threat in compact, disciplined setups, even if that edge has faded in the current campaign.

Tactical Preview

Everton W’s statistical profile and lineups point towards a side comfortable in structured, possession-oriented shapes. Their most used formations are 4-4-2 (8 matches), 4-2-3-1 (3 matches) and 4-1-4-1 (3 matches), all systems that allow them to build through midfield and use width. Despite conceding 36 goals in 20 league games (1.8 per match), Everton W have enough attacking balance to trouble Leicester City WFC, with 24 goals scored and three clean sheets in the wider data set. In midfield, H. Hayashi stands out as a creative and goalscoring presence with 4 league goals, 335 completed passes (86% accuracy) and 11 tackles, while R. Mace combines defensive solidity and distribution (656 passes at 88% accuracy, 41 tackles, 18 blocks and 19 interceptions), giving Everton W a strong central platform.

Defensively, Everton W can lean on Martina Fernández, a defender who has started 20 matches and contributed both ways with 2 goals, 625 passes at 87% accuracy and 14 blocks, reflecting a back line that, while leaky overall (36 conceded), has individuals capable of reading danger. Their home league record of 2 wins and 8 defeats with 10 goals scored and 22 conceded underlines inconsistency, but the model’s comparison still tilts towards them in defence (64% defensive index versus Leicester City WFC’s 36%), suggesting relative stability compared to their visitors.

Leicester City WFC’s tactical identity has been more reactive and fluid, often shaped by the need to plug gaps. Their most frequent formation is 5-4-1 (4 matches), signalling a preference for a back five and low block in tougher fixtures, with alternative shapes like 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 (2 matches each) hinting at occasional attempts to be more proactive. Yet the numbers are unforgiving: 11 goals scored and 51 conceded in 21 league matches, with 31 of those conceded away from home, point to a side that struggles both to retain structure and to pose sustained attacking threat.

In the middle of the pitch, S. Tierney is a key figure, officially listed as a defender but used in midfield in the stats profile, bringing bite and volume: 29 tackles, 20 interceptions and 6 yellow cards show how often Leicester City WFC rely on Tierney’s aggression to break up play. Going forward, their last-five attacking index of 21% and defensive index of 0% capture a team that has not been able to translate possession into chances nor protect their own box. Against an Everton W side with a 40% last-five form index and stronger attacking numbers (7 goals in their last five, 1.4 per game), Leicester City WFC are likely to sit deep in a 5-4-1 or 4-1-4-1, hoping to frustrate and counter.

Statistical Snapshot

• Competition: FA WSL, season 2025 — 16 May 2026.
• Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool.
• Prediction: Win or draw — Double chance : Everton W or draw.
• Win Probabilities: Home 45% / Draw 45% / Away 10%.
• Model: Everton W 56.8% — Leicester City WFC 43.2%.

Betting Verdict

The data paints Everton W as clear favourites not necessarily to win, but to avoid defeat, which aligns with the prediction of “Win or draw” and the advice of a double chance on Everton W or draw. With Everton W’s recent upswing ("LLLWW") and Leicester City WFC mired in "LLLLL" form, plus Leicester City WFC’s severe defensive issues (51 league goals conceded), backing the hosts on the double-chance market looks logical even without precise odds, which would likely sit around the short side for that protection. Head-to-head history shows Leicester City WFC can be awkward opponents, but Everton W’s stronger attack and the model’s 56.8% overall edge make the safer analytical play to side with Everton W avoiding defeat rather than chasing a riskier outright away upset.