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

The Royals, meanwhile, go into the final weekend of the 2022-23 season in the one and only relegation place.

Match preview

After picking up just one point from their last seven games, basement side Reading are fighting to maintain their place in the WSL.

Reading's hopes of beating the drop received a significant setback last weekend, as they fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur.

The disappointing result represented a fifth consecutive defeat for the Royals, who have conceded 18 goals in that period.

Having picked up all 11 of their points from home matches this season, Reading will be looking to make full use of home advantage on Saturday.

Reading may have lost their last three competitive meetings with Chelsea - including a home defeat in the FA Cup in March - but they may be able to draw inspiration from the fact that they won their most recent home league game against the Blues in December 2021.

Chelsea moved one step closer to claiming a fourth consecutive WSL title with a 2-0 home win over Arsenal last weekend.

First-half efforts from Guro Reiten and Magdalena Eriksson secured Chelsea a sixth consecutive home win that leaves them on the brink of completing a league and FA Cup double.

The Blues will go into the weekend with a two-point advantage over second-placed Manchester United, who claimed a dramatic 2-1 win in Sunday's Manchester derby to send the title race to the final day of the season.

Chelsea know that a win will be enough to retain their title, while a point will be sufficient as long as Man United do not beat Liverpool by a six-goal margin.

Having scored 63 goals in 21 games, the Blues are the highest scorers in the top flight, and they will be confident that their firepower will overwhelm a Reading side that hold the second-worst defensive record in the division.

Reading Women Women's Super League form:

D

L

L

L

L

L

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Reading are still unable to call upon goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who is sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury.

Deanne Rose made her long-awaited return from injury as a second-half substitute last weekend, and she will provide Kelly Chambers with an option off the bench on Saturday.

After dropping out of the side against Tottenham, Jade Moore and Emma Harries could return to the starting lineup for the clash with Chelsea.

As for the visitors, Emma Hayes remains without the services of Millie Bright and Fran Kirby, who are both ruled out with knee injuries.

Eriksson and Pernille Harder will leave Chelsea at the end of the season, and the pair are expected to start their final game for the club.

Having scored 10 goals in the WSL this season, Sam Kerr will continue to lead the line for Saturday's title decider.

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Moloney; Mayi Kith, Cooper, Evans, Mukandi; Eikeland, Moore, Vanhaevermaet, Harries; Troelsgaard, Wellings

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Charles; Cuthbert, Ingle; James, Harder, Reiten, Kerr

We say: Reading Women 1-4 Chelsea Women

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