Preview: Chelsea Women vs. Everton Ladies - prediction, team news, lineups

The Blues currently sit top of the WSL table with 31 points to their name, while the Toffees head into the weekend in ninth position.

Match preview

Chelsea Women will hope February is as productive as January after they recorded five straight competitive victories in the first month of the year.

They clinched an extra-time victory in their FA Cup tie with West Ham United, before they went on to record wins over Manchester United and Real Madrid in the WSL and Champions League respectively.

After sweeping past Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, Chelsea rounded off a successful Champions League group stage with a dominant 4-0 win over Paris FC thanks to goals from Fran Kirby, Mia Fishel, Guro Reiten and Maren Mjelde.

Buoyed from their victorious trip to Paris, Emma Hayes's side will turn their attention back to the WSL title race, with the Blues currently sitting three points clear of Manchester City and Arsenal.

Chelsea will certainly fancy their chances of claiming maximum points on Sunday, having won each of their last 16 home league games since playing out a goalless draw with Arsenal in February 2022.

In contrast to their hosts, Everton have found league wins hard to come by after losing each of their last three WSL matches.

Their poor spell of form began with a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, before they were beaten 2-1 in their away meeting with Arsenal.

Unfortunately for the Toffees, they experienced more disappointment in their recent outing against Leicester City at Walton Hall Park, where Janice Cayman's second-half strike proved enough to condemn Brian Sorensen's side to their fifth home defeat of the season.

While they have taken just one point from their six home league matches, Everton have fared better on their travels, having won three of their six away games in the WSL this season (D1, L2).

Although their away form may offer a cause for optimism, their hopes of claiming a positive result will be tempered by the fact they have lost each of their previous eight competitive meetings, including a 3-0 defeat in November's reverse fixture.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

L

W

W

W

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

Everton Ladies Women's Super League form:

D

W

W

L

L

L

Everton Ladies form (all competitions):

Team News

Chelsea can no longer call upon Canada international Jessie Fleming, who completed a move to the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League.

The Blues are also without the services of Millie Bright, Aniek Nouwen, Katerina Svitkova, Catarina Macario and Sam Kerr.

After making a number of changes for the midweek win over Paris FC, Hayes could revert back to the lineup that started last Saturday's win over Brighton.

As for the visitors, Sorensen has confirmed that Sara Holmgaard is set for a period on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the league defeat to Leicester.

The Toffees will also have to cope without Katrine Veje and Emily Ramsey, while Sunday's game will come too soon for Karen Holmgaard, who is continuing to work her way back to fitness.

Forward Eleanor Dale could feature among the substitutes after joining the club following the conclusion of her studies at the University of Nebraska.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Hampton; Perisset, Carter, Bjorn, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz; Rytting Kaneryd, Kirby, Reiten; James

Everton Ladies possible starting lineup:

Brosnan; Hope, Stenevik, Finnigan; Payne, Wheeler, Galli, Bissell; Kuhl, Madsen; Snoeijs

We say: Chelsea Women 3-1 Everton Ladies

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