Preview: Liverpool Women vs. Aston Villa Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Like their opponents, the visitors are also experiencing a poor run of form after losing their last three league games.

Match preview

Newly-promoted Liverpool returned to the WSL with a memorable opening day victory over reigning champions Chelsea, but rather than build upon that result, the Reds have fallen to four consecutive defeats in the league.

After failing to score in three straight WSL games, Liverpool showed signs of improvement in their away meeting with Manchester City last weekend.

Katie Stengel equalised in the 33rd minute to cancel out Khadija Shaw's opener, and although the Reds battled hard to take a point, Hayley Raso scored the winning goal with 15 minutes remaining to condemn Liverpool to a 2-1 defeat.

The result leaves Matt Beard's side in 10th place ahead of Sunday's contest, although they will move level on points with Aston Villa if they can claim their second league win of the season.

Having conceded six of their nine league goals in the opening 30 minutes of games this season, Beard will be challenging his side to start Sunday's encounter on the front foot.

Aston Villa began the season with a memorable 4-3 victory over Manchester City, before they brushed aside Leicester via a 2-0 scoreline.

Since beating the Foxes, Carla Ward's side have been unable to add to their points tally after losing their last three league games.

The Villans travelled to Kingsmeadow last weekend to face Chelsea, and they would have been pleased with their first half performance after Rachel Daly cancelled out Lauren James's opener.

However, they were unable to prevent Chelsea from claiming all three points as James scored her second goal before Sam Kerr found the net to condemn Villa to a 3-1 defeat.

After scoring six goals in their opening two games, Aston Villa have struggled in the final third in recent weeks, scoring only two goals in their last three league matches.

Liverpool Women Women's Super League form:

W

L

L

L

L

Liverpool Women form (all competitions):

Aston Villa Women Women's Super League form:

L

W

W

L

L

L

Aston Villa Women form (all competitions):

Team News

The hosts are still without the services of Leanne Kiernan due to an ankle problem, while Ceri Holland is also sidelined due to an injury issue.

Shanice van de Sanden will be amongst the substitutes as Liverpool manages her playing time following a spell on the sidelines.

After competing well against Man City last weekend, Beard is expected to name an unchanged lineup for Sunday's contest.

As for the visitors, they are without a number of their first-team squad due to injuries, including Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Simone Magill and Remi Allen.

Evie Rabjohn and Meaghan Sargeant are unavailable due to ankle and back problems respectively, while Ruesha Littlejohn and Emily Gielnik are also sidelined.

With Hannah Hampton ruled out due to a muscle injury, goalkeeper Anna Leat will retain her place in the side for Sunday's contest.

Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:

Laws; Flaherty, Fahey, Campbell; Koivisto, Matthews, Furness, Hinds; Kearns, Lawley, Stengel

Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:

Leat; Mayling, Patten, Turner, Pacheco; Blindkilde, Corsie, Dali; Lehmann, Hanson, Daly

We say: Liverpool Women 1-1 Aston Villa Women

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