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

The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking for a positive response after they lost to Manchester United in their first game of the Women's Super League season.

Match preview

After achieving a seventh-place finish in their first season back in the top flight, Liverpool came into the new campaign with the desire to kick on and move into the top half of the WSL table.

Liverpool's hopes of enjoying a successful campaign were certainly boosted last weekend, as they got the new season up and running with a memorable 1-0 victory over Arsenal in front of a record WSL crowd at the Emirates Stadium.

January signing Miri Taylor scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the 48th minute to guide the Reds to a surprise away victory over an Arsenal side that finished in the top three last term.

Following their successful trip to the English capital, Liverpool will now return to home surroundings, where they collected 18 of their 23 points during the 2022-23 season.

Having won four of their six home league matches in 2023, the Reds will be targeting maximum points in Sunday's tricky home meeting.

Aston Villa, who are looking to build upon last term's fifth-place finish, began the 2023-24 campaign with a narrow defeat to Man United at Villa Park.

Despite being reduced to 10 players following Kirsty Hanson's red card, the Villans took the lead in the 78th minute through last season's WSL top scorer Rachel Daly.

Their advantage lasted just three minutes, though, as Spain international Lucia Garcia restored parity, before Rachel Williams scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to leave Aston Villa empty-handed.

While that defeat extended their winless home run to four games, the Villans will look to carry their impressive away form into the new campaign.

Since losing away to Man United in December 2022, Carla Ward's side have put together a seven-game unbeaten away run in the WSL (W5, D2).

Liverpool Women Women's Super League form:

W

Aston Villa Women Women's Super League form:

L

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Team News

The hosts are expected to be without the services of Zara Shaw, Faye Kirby, Niamh Fahey Leanne Kiernan and Shanice van de Sanden.

Melissa Lawley, who missed the win over Arsenal, has recovered from injury and could feature on the bench against Aston Villa.

After pulling off a surprise win at the Emirates Stadium, Liverpool boss Matt Beard could name an unchanged lineup for Sunday's encounter.

As for the visitors, France international Kenza Dali will miss out once again, as she continues to work her way back to full fitness.

Aston Villa are also unable to call upon Hanson, who is suspended after being shown a straight red card against Man United.

Ward has confirmed that defender Maz Pacheco has recovered from illness, but she may only be fit enough for a place on the bench.

Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:

Laws; Clark, Bonner, Fisk; Koivisto, Nagano, Kearns, Hinds; Holland; Taylor, Hobinger

Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:

Van Domselaar; Mayling, Patten, Corsie, Turner; Parker, Staniforth; Lehmann, Salmon, Leon; Daly

We say: Liverpool Women 2-2 Aston Villa Women

After claiming maximum points last weekend, Liverpool will be hoping to claim another victory in their first home game of the new season.

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