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

The visitors, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions, and they have the chance to record a third straight win.

Match preview

Although Chelsea have played one game more than their title rivals, they maintained their three-point gap to Arsenal and Manchester United with a memorable 8-0 win over Leicester last weekend.

Guro Reiten scored a goal and provided four assists in that contest, and she was pivotal in Chelsea's Champions Legaue away meeting with Real Madrid during the week.

After Caroline Weir opened the scoring for the Spanish club, Reiten earnt her side a penalty when she was fouled by Ivana Andres, and although the Norwegian hit the post from the spot-kick, the ball bounced off the woodwork and the head of the goalkeeper to ensure the Blues claimed a point.

While Emma Hayes's side are top of their Champions League group and on the verge of progressing to the knockout rounds, they will now turn their attention back to league matters.

Chelsea will certainly be in a confident mood after winning all six of their competitive home games this season, scoring 21 goals and only conceding on two occasions.

Reading may be sat in tenth place ahead of kick off, but they have enjoyed a positive run of results in recent weeks, beginning with a 3-3 draw against Liverpool where Sanne Troelsgaard scored an 89th-minute equaliser.

They followed that result with a comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton in the League Cup, before they faced Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL last weekend.

A first-half own goal from Amy Turner proved enough to help Reading clinch a narrow 1-0 win, which also represented just their second victory of the WSL season.

With bottom-placed Leicester City still searching for their first point of the season, the Royals are currently seven points clear of the one and only relegation spot.

Although they are unbeaten in three matches, they have lost all four of their away league games this season, and they will be aware that they face a tough test when they go up against the current English champions.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

D

Reading Women Women's Super League form:

L

W

L

L

D

W

Reading Women (all competitions) form:

Team News

The hosts will be without the services of Pernille Harder, who is a long-term injury absentee after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Hayes could rotate her side for Sunday's contest, which could result in starting places for Niamh Charles, Eve Perisset, Fran Kirby and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Sam Kerr will look to add to the five league goals she has scored this season when she leads the line against Reading.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Deanne Rose due to an injury issue, while Natasha Dowie is a doubt after missing the win over Tottenham.

Reading boss Kelly Chambers could be tempted to name an unchanged side following Reading's second league win of the season.

If Chambers does select the same side then Emma Harries will make her third consecutive start in all competitions since returning from a spell on the sidelines.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Perisset, Buchanan, Bright, Charles; Cuthbert, Ingle, Kirby; Rytting Kaneryd, Reiten, Kerr

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Burns; Bryson, Evans, Cooper; Eikeland, Primmer, Troelsgaard, Vanhaevermaet, Woodham; Wade, Harries

We say: Chelsea Women 3-0 Reading Women

Previews by email