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

While the Blues are hoping to retain their Women's Super League title, Leicester are in 11th position and fighting for their top-flight status.

Match preview

After being knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Barcelona, Chelsea have bounced back with consecutive league victories against the two Merseyside clubs.

They came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 before they hammered Everton 7-0 on Sunday to extend their unbeaten home league run to 24 games.

Guro Reiten, Sam Kerr, Pernille Harder, Sophie Ingle and Jessie Fleming all found the net in a dominant first-half display against the Toffees.

Harder grabbed her second goal of the game in the 81st minute, before Erin Cuthbert rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.

The comprehensive victory moved Chelsea into second place, leaving them four points behind Man United with two games in hand, ensuring they control their own fate with four matches left to play.

After claiming consecutive victories, Leicester fell to a narrow defeat against Arsenal last time out despite putting up a spirited performance.

Janina Leitzig saved Katie McCabe's seventh-minute spot-kick, but Leicester's resistance was eventually broken just after the hour-mark when Frida Maanum scored the only goal of the game to condemn the Foxes to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

With three fixtures left in the 2022-23 campaign, Willie Kirk's side are two points clear of basement side Reading with one game in hand.

Having lost eight of their nine away league games this season, Leicester travel to Kingsmeadow with the second-worst away record in the top flight.

Concerningly, the Foxes have lost their last three competitive meetings with Chelsea by a combined 24-0 scoreline, highlighting the tought test that awaits them on Wednesday.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

L

W

W

W

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

W

W

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:

D

L

L

W

W

L

Team News

Chelsea remain without the services of Katerina Svitkova, Millie Bright, Kadiesha Buchanan and Fran Kirby, who are all sidelined with injury issues.

Kerr will have to be assessed ahead of Wednesday's contest after she was forced off in the first half against Everton.

After dropping down to the bench at the weekend, Melanie Leupolz, Lauren James and Cuthbert could return to the starting lineup.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon Abbie McManus and Lachante Paul, who are both ruled out through injury.

Kirk has revealed Shannon O'Brien is edging closer to returning to the matchday squad following a lengthy layoff, and a late decision will be made on her availability.

The Leicester boss has also stated that a couple of his squad have picked up knocks, but if everyone is passed fit, then he could name an unchanged lineup.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Musovic; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz; James, Fleming, Reiten; Kerr

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Leitzig; Bott, Howard, Plumptre, Nevin; Tierney, Mace; Pike, Green, Whelan; Cain

We say: Chelsea Women 4-0 Leicester Women

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