Everton  v Sunderland
The FA Tesco Women's Premier League Cup
Quarter-Final
2pm, Sunday 4 November 2007
Marine FC

Everton will be aiming to put themselves 90 minutes closer to completing their long quest for silverware when they entertain Sunderland in Sunday’s FA Tesco Women’s Premier League Cup quarter-final.

Not since winning the Premier League title in 1998 have the Toffees won a major honour, though in the last three years they have finished runners-up first in the FA Cup and then twice in succession in the Premier League.

Now they want to see the Everton name inscribed next to ‘winners’ on a trophy, and the League Cup – whose March final makes it the first of the three big domestic competitions to be decided – would do very nicely thank you.

Midfielder Fara Williams, fresh from helping England beat Belarus 4-0 in last Sunday’s Euro 2009 qualifier and Everton’s leading scorer this season, says: “We’ve set our targets for the season and winning a trophy is one of them.

“The players would love to win something for the club and after the disappointment of going out in the early rounds of both the FA and League Cups last year, it would be great to go all the way in one of them this season.”

On Sunday Everton will be expected to dispose of Sunderland, who since being relegated from the National Division at the end of last season have lost England internationals Steph Houghton and Carly Telford to Leeds United.

The Black Cats are the only side from outside the top flight who remain in the League Cup and will arrive on Merseyside as rank outsiders. But they have won their last four League and Cup games and Williams insists: “It will be a tough game.

“We’ll be favourites, I accept that, but Sunderland have always given us a hard time and they’re doing well in the Northern Division, so although they might be classed as underdogs they won’t be short on confidence.

“We’ll have to be totally focused. Yes, we’re desperate to win a trophy after being runners-up so often in the last few seasons – but before we can start thinking seriously about getting to the League Cup final we’ve got to get past a good side on Sunday.”