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

The Toffees will be looking to clinch their first points of the Women's Super League season after losing to Brighton & Hove Albion in their opening game.

Match preview

After waiting until January to claim their first win of the 2022-23 season, Leicester would have been relieved to get up and running with a victory in their opening-day fixture against newly-promoted Bristol City.

The Foxes fell behind just after the half-hour mark, but they went into the break on level terms thanks to a strike from Aimee Palmer.

Leicester moved through the gears in the second half, as Jutta Rantala found the net either side of a Lena Petermann effort to give the Foxes a 4-1 lead, before Amalie Thestrup pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Threstrup's late penalty would have done little to dampen Leicester's mood, with the result representing a second straight league victory for Willie Kirk's side after they beat Brighton & Hove Albion in the final game of last season.

As a result, the Foxes now have the chance to make history and record three successive victories for the first time in the WSL.

In contrast to their hosts, Everton began the new season with a defeat after they were edged out by Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

An early Elisabeth Terland brace left the Toffees with a mountain to climb, and although Megan Finnigan halved the deficit in the 65th minute, Brian Sorensen's side were unable to find the elusive equaliser.

Including last season, Everton have now lost four of their last five league matches, while they have failed to keep a clean sheet in nine consecutive WSL games.

Perhaps, the Toffees can draw inspiration from the fact their most recent shutout came in March's away meeting with Leicester when the two sides played out a goalless draw at the King Power Stadium.

While Everton will be looking to claim their first win of the season on Sunday, they have struggled to pick up victories on the road in 2023, having won only one of their six away matches during the current calendar year.

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:

W

Everton Ladies Women's Super League form:

L

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Team News

Leicester remain without the services of Australian forward Remy Siemsen, who suffered an ankle injury in pre-season.

After coming off the bench at half time to score a brace on her Leicester debut, Rantala is set to be rewarded with her first start for the club.

Petermann also marked her debut with a goal, and the Germany international will look to find the net again when she resumes her forward partnership with Missy Goodwin.

As for the Toffees, Sara Holmgaard and Karen Holmgaard have returned to training, although Sunday's contest may come too soon for the twins.

Katja Snoeijs missed the defeat to Brighton with a hand injury, and the Dutch striker remains a doubt for Everton's first away trip of the season.

Defender Megan Campbell, who recently joined on a short-term deal, could make her Everton debut after being passed fit to feature at the weekend.

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Leitzig; Cayman, Thibaud, Howard, Nevin; Tierney, Palmer, Whelan; O'Brien; Petermann, Goodwin

Everton Ladies possible starting lineup:

Ramsey; Campbell, Bjorn, Stevevik; Veje, Finnigan, Galli, Hope; Bennison; Sorensen, Piemonte

We say: Leicester Women 1-1 Everton Ladies

Leicester may have won their opening game against newly-promoted Bristol City, but Sunday's meeting with Everton will provide the Foxes with a much stiffer test.

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