Preview: Manchester City Women vs. Chelsea Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts claimed all three points in their meeting with West Ham United, while the reigning champions edged out rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Match preview

After missing out on the top three last season, Man City's minimum goal for the 2023-24 campaign will be to secure Champions League qualification.

The Citizens, who will also be aiming to mount a title challenge, made an encouraging start to the new season with a 2-0 away victory over West Ham United last weekend.

England international Lauren Hemp opened the scoring in the 48th minute, before summer signing Jill Roord doubled Man City's advantage five minutes after Chloe Kelly had a penalty saved.

Man City will now return to home surroundings, where they are unbeaten in 19 league matches since losing 4-0 to Chelsea in November 2021.

While the Citizens may have lost on that occasion, they emerged victorious from their most recent home meeting with Chelsea in March after first-half efforts from Filippa Angeldahl and Hemp secured a 2-0 victory.

Chelsea kicked off the defence of their WSL title with a narrow 2-1 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

Mia Fishel, who arrived from Mexican side Tigres, scored her first goal for the club to put Chelsea in front, before Lauren James doubled her side's advantage in the 51st minute.

Although Martha Thomas pulled a goal back for Spurs, Emma Hayes's side saw out the remainder of the contest to record their eighth consecutive WSL victory.

Chelsea will now turn their attention to Sunday's away trip, where they will be looking for revenge after suffering one of their two league defeats last season at the Jioe Stadium.

Although they finished on the losing side in March, Chelsea have the chance to claim a fourth successive away victory in the WSSL after winning their final three away league games of the 2022-23 season without conceding.

Manchester City Women Women's Super League form:

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Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

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Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

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Team News

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor has revealed that Bunny Shaw is in contention to feature after the Jamaica international missed the win over West Ham United through injury.

Defender Demi Stokes is closing in on a return to action, but Sunday's contest will come too soon for the 31-year-old.

After being sent off against West Ham, Leila Ouahabi will miss out through suspension, which could result in Laia Aleixandri moving over to left back, while Kerstin Casparij is set to start on the right side of a back four.

As for the visitors, Hayes has confirmed that Catarina Macario and Katerina Svitkova will miss out through injury.

Chelsea's star striker Sam Kerr resumed full training this week, and the Australia international could be used off the bench as she continues to work her way to full fitness.

Fran Kirby is also likely to get more minutes after she returned from a long layoff to make a substitute appearance against Tottenham.

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:

Keating; Casparij, Kennedy, Greenwood, Aleixandri; Roord, Hasegawa, Castellanos; Kelly, Hemp, Shaw

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Musovic; Mjelde, Bright, Carter, Charles; Ingle, Nusken; Rytting Kaneryd, James, Reiten; Fishel

We say: Manchester City Women 1-1 Chelsea Women

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