Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Women’s Super League clash between Liverpool Women and Manchester City Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Manchester City Women will continue their title bid with a trip to Prenton Park for Saturday’s Women’s Super League meeting with Liverpool Women.
The Citizens head into the weekend in second position in the WSL table, while the Reds are currently sitting in fourth position.
Match preview
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Liverpool have built upon last season’s seventh-place finish, picking up 29 points from 17 matches to move into fourth spot with five games left to play.
Despite enjoying an impressive campaign, Liverpool may have been slightly disappointed to play out a 0-0 draw in last Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.
Although the Reds had to settle for a point, the goalless affair extended their unbeaten run to five league matches (W3, D2).
The Merseyside club have proven to be a tough team to beat on home turf, having lost just one of their last six WSL games.
The Reds will certainly have their work cut out to pick up a positive result against the Citizens, with their last 10 matches producing one win and nine defeats.
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Man City are firmly in the hunt to win their second WSL title after winning 14, drawing one and losing two of their 17 matches.
The Citizens claimed their most recent victory in last Sunday’s game against rivals Manchester United, with Jess Park netting a brace before Bunny Shaw found the net to wrap up a 3-1 home win.
Having won each of their last 11 league matches, Gareth Taylor‘s side are currently sitting second place and level on 40 points with leaders Chelsea.
With Chelsea set to face Arsenal in the League Cup final this weekend, Man City have the chance to move into pole position and pile the pressure on their title rivals.
The Citizens have already beaten Liverpool on two occasions this season, winning 4-3 in November’s League Cup tie before recording a 5-1 victory in January’s WSL meeting.
Liverpool Women Women’s Super League form:
Liverpool Women form (all competitions):
Manchester City Women Women’s Super League form:
Manchester City Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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Liverpool are unable to call upon Niamh Fahey and Jasmine Matthews, who are sidelined with calf and hamstring issues respectively.
Shanice van de Sanden has been ruled out with an ankle problem, while Yana Daniels is unavailable due to a concussion.
Matt Beard has confirmed Finland international Emma Koivisto will be available for selection after missing the Merseyside derby through injury.
Taylor Hinds is also set to return to action, but the 24-year-old will only be ready to take up a place on the bench.
As for the visitors, defender Laia Aleixandri is unlikely to feature after she pulled out of the warm-up in the Manchester derby due to an injury problem.
The title challengers remain without the services of midfielder Jill Roord, who is working on her rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
After seeing his side claim a 3-1 victory last weekend, Taylor is set to name an unchanged lineup for Saturday’s Prenton Park.
Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:
Laws; Clark, Fahey, FiskL Koivisto, Nagano, Nagano, Holland, Parry; Kearns, Haug, Kiernan
Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Keating; Casparij, Kennedy, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Park, Hasegawa, Coombs; Fowler, Hemp, Shaw
We say: Liverpool Women 1-2 Manchester City Women
Having avoided defeat in their last five league games, Liverpool should provide Man City with a tough test at Prenton Park.
However, the Citizens have emerged victorious from each of their previous 11 league games, and we think the title-chasers will do enough to continue that run with a narrow win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.