Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 October 2022, 16:24
Manchester United will look to maintain their 100% record in the Women's Super League when they travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City on Sunday.

The Foxes, meanwhile, are still searching for their first points of the season after losing their opening four league games.

Match preview

Leicester narrowly avoided the drop last season, and another relegation battle seems to be in store for the 2022-23 campaign.

Although they have beaten Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the League Cup, Leicester have lost their opening four league games, leaving them bottom of the WSL table.

The Foxes were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City last weekend, as a result of the heavy defeat, they are now winless in their previous 11 league games.

Reading are the only side in the WSL who are still pointless this season, and Leicester will have to pull off an upset if they are to claim their first points of the season on Sunday.

After failing to score in their last three league games and conceding nine league goals this season, Lydia Bedford knows that her team need to improve at both ends of the pitch if they are to avoid relegation.

While Leicester are sitting at the bottom of the table, Manchester United are currently leading the pack thanks to their superior goal difference.

The Red Devils are one of two teams who are yet to drop points this season, while they are the league's highest scorers after scoring 10 goals across their three WSL games.

United began the season with wins over Reading and West Ham, before they drew 1-1 with Aston Villa in the League Cup, although they lost out on a bonus point following a penalty shootout defeat.

However, the Red Devils returned to winning ways last weekend as for the second straight home game they recorded a 4-0 victory.

An Ella Toone Brace as well as goals from Leah Galton and Adriana Leon guided United to a comfortable win over Brighton, and they will now attempt to claim a fourth consecutive victory on Sunday as they look to launch a serious title challenge.

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:

L

L

L

L

Leicester Women form (all competitions):

Manchester United Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

W

Manchester United Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Leicester are still unable to call upon the services of Hannah Cain and Lachante Paul, who are long-term absentees.

Demi Lambourne has not fixtured in a competitive game this season due to injury, but the goalkeeper could feature in the matchday squad, although Kirstie Levell is expected to retain her place between the posts.

After featuring as a second half substitute against Man City, Molly Pike could return to the starting lineup for Sunday's contest.

As for the visitors, they still expected to be without Alessia Russo for two to three weeks through injury, while Aoife Mannion and Grace Clinton will also be unavailable.

Hannah Blundell is expected to be fit for Sunday's game after being forced off at half time against Brighton, however, Ona Battle could miss out due to a concussion.

Nikita Parris came into the side last weekend, and the summer signing will look to score her first league goal for United on Sunday.

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Levell; Howard, Tierney, Plumptre; Purfield, Pike, Green, Whelan, Simon; Jones, O'Brien

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:

Earps; Le Tissier, Thorisdottir, Blundell, Turner; Zelem, Ladd; Garcia, Toone, Galton; Parris

We say: Leicester Women 0-4 Manchester United Women

Previews by email

Top News

4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After leapfrogging their London rivals in the Premier League table on Thursday evening, Chelsea host fellow European outsiders West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will attempt to reach a notable milestone in Sunday's Premier League home clash with Tottenham Hotspur. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly confident that Son Heung-min will sign a new deal at the club. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi is reportedly pushing for his club to sign Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva during this summer's transfer window. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison is reportedly one of the players who could be sold as part of Ange Postecoglou's summer clearout. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the Turkish Super Lig table clash on Monday evening as Konyaspor host Fenerbahce at the Torku Arena. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and West Ham United will be looking to strengthen their bid to qualify for Europe when they square off at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still in the running for European football next season, deposed Serie A champions Napoli meet relegation-threatened Udinese on Monday evening. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still in the hunt for two trophies this season, Atalanta BC will aim to keep the pressure on Serie A's top five when they visit relegated Salernitana on Monday. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly identified Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey as a potential signing during this summer's transfer window. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min - like many of his teammates - was found wanting in Spurs' 2-0 Premier League loss to London rivals Chelsea in midweek, where the Lilywhites' fleeting Champions League chances suffered another crushing blow. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marcus Rashford will reportedly hold showdown talks with the Manchester United hierarchy in a bid to address his struggles during the 2023-24 campaign. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England boss Gareth Southgate is reportedly not considering including Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho in his squad for this summer's European Championship. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta vs. Minnesota Utd (Sunday, 12.30am) Two sides currently in contrasting form go head to head in the MLS as Atlanta United play host to Minnesota United at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides separated by just one point in the Primeira Liga standings go head to head on Sunday as SC Farense play host to Estoril Praia at the Estadio de Sao Luis. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Sociedad vs. Las Palmas (Saturday, 1.00pm) Real Sociedad will be bidding to bounce back from their defeat against Real Madrid when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Las Palmas on Saturday afternoon. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Monza vs. Lazio (Saturday, 5.00pm) Still vying for a place in Europe thanks to their recent revival, Lazio visit mid-table Monza on Saturday evening. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dortmund vs. Augsburg (Saturday, 2.30pm) Three days on from their Champions League semi-final first-leg victory in midweek, Borussia Dortmund return to Westfalenstadion to welcome Augsburg for a Bundesliga clash on Saturday afternoon. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Le Havre vs. Strasbourg (Saturday, 2.00pm) Le Havre face Strasbourg at the Stade Oceane on Saturday afternoon in Ligue 1, a game between two sides who are battling against relegation with just three fixtures remaining in the season. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic vs. Hearts (Saturday, 3.00pm) Celtic play host to Hearts on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them a step closer to defending their Scottish Premiership title. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal vs. Bournemouth (Saturday, 12.30pm) Bidding to temporarily go four points clear at the top of the Premier League standings, Arsenal kick off Saturday's action with the visit of Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium for the lunchtime kickoff. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Braga will be looking to bounce back from last week's loss at Benfica when they play host to Casa Pia at the Estadio Braga Municipal in round 32 of the Primera Liga on Sunday. 3 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lille host Lyon on Monday at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, knowing that a single point would be enough to officially claim a spot in the Europa League next season at the very least. 3 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Table-toppers Galatasaray will look to maintain their lead in the Turkish Super Lig title race when they host Sivasspor on Sunday evening at Rams Park. 3 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim has refused to rule out the suggestion that he has held talks over succeeding Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea boss. 3 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly placed Newcastle United's Alexander Isak at the top of their list of forward targets for the summer transfer window. 3 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The fight to avoid relegation intensifies as Gaziantep take on Hatayspor at Gaziantep Stadium on Sunday evening. 3 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides vying for a top-four finish go head-to-head when Istanbul Basaksehir host Kasimpasa at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Sunday afternoon.