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

The Citizens head into the weekend in second position in the WSL table, while the visitors are languishing in 11th place.

Match preview

After their 14-game unbeaten league run was ended by Arsenal, Man City bounced back to claim a commanding 6-2 win over West Ham United last weekend.

Laura Coombs, Khadija Shaw, Steph Houghton and Mary Fowler all got on the scoresheet after Chloe Kelly had registered a brace in the opening seven minutes.

With four games to play, Man City have an outside chance of winning the WSL title with three points separating them from league leaders Manchester United, while third-placed Chelsea are just one point adrift of the Citizens with two games in hand.

Man City have not lost a home league game since November 2021, and they will be looking to extend their unbeaten home run to 17 WSL matches.

The Citizens have also won their last four meetings with Reading, including the comfortable 3-0 victory they recorded when the two sides met in November.

Reading will head into Sunday's encounter in a downbeat mood after they gave up a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Everton last Sunday.

Justine Vanhaevermaet scored a brace inside the opening 17 minutes to put Reading in the driving seat, but goals from Hanna Bennison, Katja Snoeijs and Hanna Bennison turned the game in Everton's favour and left the Royals empty-handed.

The result ensured Reading remained just one point clear of basement side Leicester City, who have a game in hand over Kelly Chambers's side.

The Reading boss will be concerned by the fact that her side are winless in four games, conceding at least two goals in each of those matches.

Hopes of claiming a victory on Sunday may be slim, as the Royals are still waiting to collect their first WSL point on the road after losing all of their nine away league games this season.

Manchester City Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

W

W

L

W

Manchester City Women form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

L

W

Reading Women Women's Super League form:

L

W

L

D

L

L

Reading Women form (all competitions):

W

L

L

D

L

L

Team News

Man City are unable to call upon the services of Alanna Kennedy, Sandy MacIver and Laia Aleixandri, who are all sidelined with injury issues.

Ellie Roebuck missed the win over West Ham with a knock, but the goalkeeper is expected to return for Sunday's meeting with Reading.

Shaw is currently leading the race for the WSL Golden Boot, and she will be looking to add to the 17 league goals she has scored this season.

As for the Royals, Jackie Burns is out for the season with an Achilles problem, while Deanne Rose remains unavailable as she continues her recovery from a long-term injury.

After scoring a brace in her return to the starting lineup, Vanhaevermaet will retain her place in the Reading midfield.

Faye Bryson dropped out of the side last weekend, but she is expected to return to the backline for Sunday's encounter.

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:

Roebuck; Casparij, Houghton, Greenwood, Morgan; Angeldal, Hasegawa, Coombs; Kelly, Hemp, Shaw

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Moloney; Bryson, Mayi Kith, Caldwell, Mukandi; Eikeland, Vanhaevermaet, Rowe; Harries, Wellings, Troelsgaard

We say: Manchester City Women 3-0 Reading Women

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