Preview: Liverpool Women vs. West Ham United Women

Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash between Liverpool Women and West Ham United Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Liverpool Women will attempt to bounce back from their FA Cup exit when they welcome West Ham United Women to Prenton Park on Tuesday.

The Reds currently occupy fifth place in the Women’s Super League table, while the Hammers are languishing in 11th position.

Match preview
© Reuters

Liverpool’s hopes of reaching the FA Cup semi-finals were quashed in last Saturday’s home meeting with Leicester City.

The Reds went into the quarter-final clash off the back of three consecutive victories, but their winning run was ultimately brought to an end by Jutta Rantala’s brace.

As a result of the 2-0 defeat, Liverpool will now turn their focus to the final seven matches of the WSL season, with the Merseyside club well set to achieve a top-half finish.

Having collected 25 points from their 15 league matches, the Reds are currently sitting just behind fourth-placed Manchester United on goal difference.

As Liverpool look to keep the pressure on their rivals, they will head into the weekend with hopes of claiming their first WSL home victory since beating Brighton & Hove Albion in November.

With no game last weekend, West Ham have had a couple of weeks to reflect upon their hard-fought 1-1 draw against Man United.

The Hammers trailed for the majority of the contest following Rachel Williams’s fourth-minute opener, but Vivianne Asseyi ultimately proved to be West Ham’s hero, netting an 85th-minute equaliser to ensure the spoils were shared.

As a result of that draw, West Ham eked out their gap to basement side Bristol City to six points, boosting their hopes of extending their top-flight stay into a seventh consecutive season.

They now turn their focus to Sunday’s trip to Prenton Park, where they will look to offer a strong attacking performance after scoring just five goals in seven away league games this season.

The Hammers were able to find the net in October’s reverse fixture, with Riko Ueki netting a 95th-minute leveller to snatch a point for her side at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

Liverpool Women Women’s Super League form:

Liverpool Women form (all competitions):

West Ham United Women Women’s Super League form:

West Ham United Women form (all competitions):

Team News
© Reuters

Liverpool boss Matt Beard has confirmed that Fuka Nagano will miss a second consecutive game due to an injury issue, but she is expected to return in time for the Merseyside derby next weekend.

Taylor Hinds is still a couple of weeks away from returning to action, while Gemma Bonner is set to serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Melissa Lawley has dropped out of the starting lineup for the last two matches, but the 29-year-old could be brought into the side for Sunday’s home league fixture.

As for the Hammers, they remain without the services of Abbey-Leigh Stringer, while Kristie Mewis will be absent due to a tendon issue.

Shelina Zadorsky is expected to come into the backline after returning from the Gold Cup where she reached the semi-finals with Canada.

Asseyi will prove one of West Ham’s main goal threats, having scored five times across the last seven matches in all competitions.

Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:
Laws; Clark, Fahey, Fisk; Koivisto, Kearns, Lundgaard, Hobinger; Lawley, Haug

West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Cissoko, Tysiak, Zadorsky; Shimizu, Hayashi, Gorry, Smith; Asseyi, Ziu, Ueki

We say: Liverpool Women 1-1 West Ham United Women
Liverpool have seen two of their last three home league matches finish all square, and after drawing their previous two head-to-head meetings with West Ham, we think they will have to settle for a point in Sunday’s home fixture.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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