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

While the Reds currently sit in ninth place in the Women's Super League table, Reading are one point and one place behind their opponents after losing their last three league games.

Match preview

Liverpool have only played one league game in 2023, after their WSL meeting with Chelsea on January 22 was abandoned due to a frozen pitch.

However, the Reds were able to play Chelsea in the FA Cup last weekend, battling valiantly despite losing 3-2.

After winning only two of their 10 league games this season, Liverpool could be dragged into a relegation battle with five points separating them from basement side Leicester City.

Having played Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in three of their last four competitive matches, facing a team that are currently outside the WSL top four presents Liverpool with a chance to end their run of defeats.

They can also draw inspiration from the fact that both of their two league victories this season have taken place on home turf.

Like their hosts, Reading have also won just two league games this season, and they will be looking to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat on Sunday.

Having picked up seven points from their 12 WSL matches, Reading currently sit four points above the one and only relegation place ahead of the weekend's round of fixtures.

Although they have struggled in the league, the Royals managed to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup following a penalty shootout victory over Leicester last weekend.

After Sanne Troelsgaard saw her opening goal cancelled out by Sam Tierney, the cup tie went to extra-time, where Leicester moved in front thanks to a Hannah Cain goal, but Emma Mukandi found an equaliser, and the Royals managed to win 3-2 in the subsequent penalty shootout.

Reading are one of two clubs, alongside Leicester, who are yet to pick up an away point in the WSL this season, and they will be aiming to win a topflight away game for the first time since February last year when they face Liverpool on Sunday.

Liverpool Women Women's Super League form:

L

L

D

D

W

L

Liverpool Women form (all competitions):

Reading Women Women's Super League form:

L

D

W

L

L

L

Reading Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Shanice van de Sanden and Leanne Kiernan are expected to miss out for Liverpool due to knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Beard will be unable to call upon Rachel Furness, who left the club by mutual content, before signing for Championship side Bristol City on a free transfer.

Natasha Dowie has returned on loan from Reading after scoring 45 goals in 66 appearances during her first spell for the club before leaving in 2015, but she will have to wait for her second debut as she is unable to feature against her parent club on Sunday.

As for the visitors, they are still without the services of forward Deanne Rose, who is a long-term injury absentee.

Jade Moore returned to the club in January, and after coming off the bench to make her second debut against Leicester, she could be brought into the starting lineup on Sunday.

Reading also signed Esther Mayi Kith in the winter transfer window, and she could feature among the substitutes as she awaits her first appearance in a Reading shirt.

Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:

Laws; Koivisto, Fahey, Bonner, Campbell; Nagano, Holland; Daniels, Kearns, Lawley; Stengel

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Moloney; Mukandi, Evans, Cooper; Eikeland, Moore, Vanhaevermaet, Woodham; Rowe, Harries, Wellings

We say: Liverpool Women 1-1 Reading Women

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