Preview: Aston Villa Women vs. Tottenham Hotspur Ladies - prediction, team news, lineups

The two sides are currently separated by three points in the league table, with Tottenham sitting just one place behind their opponents, who sit in seventh position.

Match preview

Aston Villa experienced mixed results in the first half of the season, winning four and losing five of their nine WSL games.

Carla Ward's side rounded off 2022 with consecutive league defeats after being thrashed 5-0 and 4-1 by Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

While the results suggest Aston Villa may have some way to go if they are to compete in the upper echelons of the WSL table, their January transfer business has highlighted their ambition.

The Villans have strengthened their midfield with the addition of England international Jordan Nobbs - who won multiple trophies at Arsenal, including three league titles - as well as recruiting Lucy Staniforth from Manchester United.

Those signings will add some much-needed experience to an Aston Villa side that will be keen to improve upon a run of results that has seen them lose five of their last seven league matches.

Meanwhile, the winter break may have come at the right time for Tottenham, who failed to build upon a memorable 8-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

That proved to be Tottenham's final WSL victory of 2022, as they went on to lose four consecutive league games by a combined 9-0 scoreline.

While those defeats ensured Spurs began the new year one place behind Saturday's opponents, they will move level with the Villans if they can claim all three points.

Like their hosts, Tottenham have also signalled their intent in the transfer window after they bought Bethany England from London rivals Chelsea.

England, who has won four WSL titles in her career, was part of the England squad that won the European Championship last summer, Tottenham boss Rehanne Skinner will hope the forward's winning mentality can help Spurs end their run of defeats and begin to move up the league table.

Aston Villa Women Women's Super League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Women's Super League form:

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Team News

Simone Magill, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Remi Allen are expected to miss out for the hosts through injury.

Nobbs and Staniforth are set to be given their Aston Villa debuts, with the pair expected to feature in the starting lineup.

Rachel Daly is the joint-highest scorer in the WSL, and she will look to add to the eight goals she has scored this season when she leads the line on Saturday.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Kyah Simon, Ria Percival, Kit Graham and Ellie Brazil due to injury issues.

Esther Morgan may feature among the substitutes after returning from a loan spell with Championship side Coventry United.

Following her arrival from Chelsea, England will look to open her Tottenham account when she makes her debut for the club against Aston Villa.

Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:

Hampton; Mayling, Patten, Turner, Pacheco; Nobbs, Corsie, Staniforth; Lehmann, Hanson, Daly

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies possible starting lineup:

Spencer; Turner, Bartrip, Zadorsky, Ale; Cho, Summanen; Bizet, Spence, Ayane; England

We say: Aston Villa Women 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies

Neither side has drawn a game in the top-flight this term, and we think that trend will continue on Saturday, with Aston Villa claiming their third home WSL win of the season when they face a Tottenham side who have lost their last four league matches.

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