Preview: Leicester Women vs. Brighton & Hove Albion Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the Seagulls will be looking to get off to a winning start in Jens Scheuer's first game in charge.

Match preview

Leicester know they have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid the drop after losing all nine of their league games this term, leaving them bottom of the WSL table.

Since winning 3-0 against West Ham United last February, Leicester have endured a 16-game winless run in the WSL, which has included 15 defeats.

The Leicester hierarchy decided to sack Lydia Bedford as a manager in November and replace her with Willie Kirk, who moved from his role as Director of Football.

Unfortunately for the new boss, his first three league games in charge have resulted in a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal, a narrow loss to West Ham and an 8-0 thrashing against Chelsea.

Although Leicester have only scored two goals in their opening nine league fixtures, they would have taken confidence from their 5-0 League Cup victory against Championship side Sunderland in midweek.

Brighton are the side that are sat just outside the one and only relegation spot, after picking up seven points from their eight matches in the WSL this season.

After Hope Powell resigned as Brighton's boss following an 8-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in October, Amy Merrick took over on an interim basis, picking up four points from her three league games in charge.

Over the winter break, the Seagulls confirmed the managerial appointment of Scheuer, who most recently coached Bayern Munich, where he won the 2020-21 Frauen-Bundesliga title.

Scheuer takes over a side that currently have the worst defensive record in the topflight after shipping 29 goals this season - four more than Sunday's opponents.

Brighton will be keen to start Scheuer's tenure with a win, and although a record of one win and three defeats in their four away league games this season may not inspire confidence, all three of those losses took place against current top-four teams.

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:

L

L

L

L

L

L

Leicester Women form (all competitions):

Brighton & Hove Albion Women Women's Super League form:

L

L

L

W

D

L

Brighton & Hove Albion Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Leicester are unable to call upon the services of Abbie McManus, who is set to be sidelined for at least three months after fracturing her leg in midweek against Sunderland.

Forward Remy Siemsen and goalkeeper Janina Leitzig have recently joined the club, and should all the necessary paperwork be completed in time, they could at least feature among the substitutes on Sunday.

Kirk is expected to make a number of changes to the side that featured in the League Cup on Wednesday, with Demi Lambourne, Samantha Tierney, Erin Simon and Natasha Flint all in contention for starting berths.

As for the visitors, Zoe Morse and Brianna Visalli have recently arrived from the United States, while Dejana Stefanovic and Guro Bergsvand have joined from Valerenga and Brann respectively.

Subject to international clearance, Brighton's four January signings could all be involved in some capacity on Sunday.

Danielle Carter is expected to lead the line for the visitors, and she will be looking to add to the three league goals she has scored this season.

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Lambourne; Simon, Howard, Plumptre, Purfield; Bott, Whelan, Tierney, Pike, Goodwin; Flint

Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:

Walsh; Fox, Williams, Bergsvand, Pattinson; Visalli, Connolly; Robinson, Olme, Sarri; Carter

We say: Leicester Women 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion Women

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