Lauren Hemp calls for huge crowd at Hill Dickinson Stadium as Lionesses eye win

Back on Boxing Day 1920, Dick, Kerr Ladies of Preston defeated St Helens 4-0 at the Blues’ previous home Goodison Park in front of 53,000 spectators in what was a world record attendance for a women’s club game that stood for over 98 years. While Everton aren’t expecting a those kind of figures by the banks of the Mersey tonight, Manchester City winger Hemp believes the supporters can play their part as England look to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat in Spain on Friday.

That result ensured that, heading into their respective final fixtures (Spain go to Iceland at the same time with an 8pm kick-off), both nations now have 12 points from five games, but Spain’s superior head-to-head record takes England’s destiny out of their own hands if they’re to qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Brazil rather than go through another two rounds of play-offs.

Hemp said: “It’s always nice to have a game so soon afterwards. We didn’t play how we wanted to, we didn’t execute the gameplan like we should have.

“For us as players, the thing we love doing is then getting back out on the pitch and proving ourselves as a group and obviously to all our fans as well. The fans that came out to support us (in Spain), we appreciated it so much and they were there throughout the whole game for us.

“We now look forward to the game at Everton’s new stadium. I hear we’ve got a massive turnout there, which is great for us, so the best thing we can do is put on a performance for them.”

England beat Ukraine 6-1 last time out in the reverse fixture (played in Turkey) on March 3. Regardless of whether Iceland can do them an unexpected favour, Hemp wants to turn on the style.

The 25-year-old said: “It’s always tough having a defeat like that but there’s only so many times you can go over the game. The important thing for us it to look forward to the next one.

“Yes, it’s not nice being on the end of a defeat but it’s important for us not to panic because we’ve been in those situations before where we’ve lost games. As professional players, you’re always going to lose games but it’s where you get the biggest [amount of] learning.

“Now it’s looking forward to the next one and making sure we put those wrongs right.

“It’s the mentality of the group. Coming after a defeat like that, it’s easy to put your heads down but I think that’s what great about this group, we work each other.

“We’ve been training really well and our full focus is on Tuesday’s game and putting in a good, relentless performance against Ukraine. We’ve looked at their strengths and weaknesses that we want to exploit.

“It’s important that we go out and do that and put on a show for the fans.”

Having previously played England home games at the City Ground, the Etihad Stadium, Pride Park and St Mary’s this season in addition to Wembley, Hemp, who hails from North Walsham in Norfolk is looking forward to turning out by the banks of the Mersey. She said: “It’s fantastic. I’ve heard that the stadium is unbelievable.

“It’s so nice as players that we’re able to go and play in different stadiums across the whole of the country. I think it’s so important for us to see the fans from all across and I’ve seen that there’s going to be quite a few fans there, so I can’t wait.”

Meanwhile, fans attending the fixture can kick-things off by staging a raucous welcome for the Lionesses. Supporters arriving early are encouraged to make their way to the Western Wharf (adjacent to the River Mersey), where a stepped terrace provides the perfect platform to welcome both team coaches on their arrival.

Access to the Western Terrace is available via the perimeter at the end of the North and South Stands, with the Ukraine team coach expected around 6.20pm, closely followed by Wiegman and the England players, circa 6.30pm.

Preceding the team arrivals, Lionesses legend and former Everton star Jill Scott will also arrive on the Western Wharf at the conclusion of the second day of her extraordinary charity challenge to raise money for Comic Relief/Sport Relief.

Jill is due to cycle onto the Wharf at 6.10pm, following a punishing 99-mile ride from Aston Villa to Hill Dickinson Stadium. Her five-day duathlon involves a journey from Wembley Stadium, cycling and running a total of 388 miles and visiting every club she played for, finishing at the Stadium of Light in her hometown of Sunderland. You can read more about the charity challenge, and how you can donate HERE.

Please note that capacity on the Western Terrace is limited and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Once capacity is reached, the area will be closed for safety reasons.

Fans are encouraged to bring flags and banners to help create a vibrant and colourful atmosphere. However, we respectfully remind supporters that pyrotechnics of any kind - including smoke grenades, smoke bombs, canisters and flares - are strictly prohibited on the stadium footprint.

Tickets for the fixture can still be purchased HERE

Everton has produced a special event guide for supporters attending the game. The guide, available at the link, below, will help all supporters to plan their visit, including the extensive Travel Hub with advice and directions on how to travel to the stadium.

The guide also contains information on food and drink options, digital tickets, accessibility, WiFi and phone connectivity, safeguarding, bag and flag policies, and what’s happening in and around the ground, including interactive stadium maps.

To access the Event Guide CLICK HERE