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Women's Super League | Gameweek 4
Oct 16, 2022 at 2pm UK
Academy Stadium

Man City Women
4 - 0
Leicester Women

Shaw (24', 79'), Hemp (72'), Hasegawa (88')
Greenwood (42')
FT(HT: 1-0)

O'Brien (39')

Preview: Manchester City Women vs. Leicester Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Women's Super League clash between Manchester City Women and Leicester Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

After beginning their Women's Super League campaign with consecutive defeats, Manchester City Women will attempt to claim their first points of the season when they play host to Leicester Women on Sunday.

The visitors are also pointless after their opening three WSL games, but after beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the League Cup, they have the chance to claim a second straight win.


Match preview

Chloe Kelly in action for Manchester City Women on September 25, 2022© Reuters

After losing to Real Madrid in Champions League qualification, Manchester City's main objective for the WSL campaign is to record another top three-finish as they bid to return to Europe's biggest club competition.

However, consecutive defeats leave Man City languishing near the bottom of the WSL table and already six points adrift of those at the top of the standings.

Gareth Taylor's side conspired to lose 4-3 in their opening league game against Aston Villa despite leading 3-2 on one occasion.

They failed to bounce back in their away meeting with reigning champions Chelsea, with a 2-0 defeat ensuring that the Citizens are one of three teams who are without a point in the top flight this term

Man City will now turn their attention to their first home league contest of the season, and after winning their previous five home games in the WSL by a combined 23-2, they may be confident that they can get their campaign up and running on Sunday.

Leicester City Women manager Lydia Bedford before the match on March 12, 2022© Reuters

Despite narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Leicester's struggles have continued at the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign.

They are still yet to score in the league this term, and as a result of defeats to Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Everton, the Foxes are winless in 10 league matches.

Worryingly, nine of those 10 games have ended in defeat, and they have only managed to find the net on three occasions in that period, while conceding 31 goals.

Lydia Bedford evidently has her work cut out to keep Leicester in the top-flight this term, and with all of last season's top four to come in their next six league games, the Foxes may need to pull off an upset or two to move away from the bottom of the WSL table.

Leicester can take comfort from the fact that in their most recent outing, they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup, and they will hope that the confidence gained from that victory can help them record a positive result against Man City.

Manchester City Women Women's Super League form:


Manchester City Women form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:


Leicester Women Women's form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W


Team News

Manchester City Women manager Gareth Taylor on February 3, 2022© Reuters

The hosts are still without the services of Ruby Mace and Alanna Kennedy, who are still recovering from their respective injuries.

Taylor has indicated that Yui Hasegawa is nearing a return to full fitness, and the summer signing is in contention to feature in the matchday squad as her City debut edges closer.

Khadija Shaw will continue to lead the line for Man City, with the forward looking to add to the goal that she scored against Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the WSL season.

As for the visitors, they are still without the services of long-term absentees Hannah Cain and Lachante Paul, while Georgia Brougham is also set to miss out.

Bedford has indicated that Demi Lambourne could return to the side following a spell on the sidelines, while Abbie McManus may also make her comeback to the matchday squad.

Meanwhile, Natasha Flint is in contention for a starting place after coming off the bench to feature as a substitute in Leicester's last two league games.

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Roebuck; Casparij, Houghton, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Castellanos, Aleixandri, Coombs; Kelly, Hemp, Shaw

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:
Lambourne; Howard, Tierney, Plumptre; Simon, Whelan, Green, Pike, Purfield; Flint, O'Brien


SM words green background

We say: Manchester City Women 2-0 Leicester Women

Although Manchester City have lost their opening two league games, we think they will have too much quality for Leicester on Sunday.


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


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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