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

Neither side have picked up a point of any kind so far this season, with a gap between themselves and the rest of the WSL already starting to open.

Match preview

With just one goal to show from their opening five WSL fixtures, it has not been the start to the campaign that Leicester would have hoped for.

Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, Leicester finished just two points above bottom-placed Birmingham City, who dropped down to the Women's Championship.

Having failed to learn from their mistakes, Leicester once again find themselves in trouble early on this season, with relegation a likely outcome for the Foxes.

Leicester will be hoping to take advantage of their early-season six-pointer against Reading, who enter above the visitors on goal difference.

Much-like Leicester, Reading have also conceded 10 goals from their first five matches, yet the Royals' superior tally of three goals scored sees them sit outside the drop zone for now.

Two of those three goals came during last weekend's defeat away to West Ham United, where a late flurry from Reading saw the Royals net twice in seven minutes.

Reading were unable to claw back the first-half three-goal deficit, meaning that they are still awaiting their first positive result of the campaign.

Hopes of ending that torrid run this weekend will be boosted by Reading's head-to-head record over Leicester, as the Royals are unbeaten against the Foxes in WSL action.

Granted, there have only been two meetings to date, but with one draw and one win to their name against Leicester, Reading will be confident of maintaining their unbeaten record on Sunday.

For Leicester, they are without a goal from the two meetings with Reading, with the visitors' attack in need of a strong performance this weekend.

Reading Women Women's Super League form:

D

L

L

L

L

L

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:

L

L

L

L

L

L

Team News

With not many goals so far this season, Natasha Dowie will be hoping to end Reading's struggles by finding the net on Sunday.

Emma Harries and Lily Woodham will flank the Reading attack, whereas Jacqueline Burns will be the woman tasked with keeping the goals out at the other end.

Leicester's only goal at this point of the WSL campaign came via an own goal, meaning that the Foxes are yet to score one of their own, with strikers Natasha Flint and Missy Goodwin the pair who will start up front.

Sam Tierney should anchor the Leicester back three, with Sophie Howard and Ashleigh Plumptre also operating in the defence.

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Burns; Eikeland, Cooper, Evans, Mitchell; Primmer, Rowe, Vanhaevermaet; Harries, Dowie, Woodham

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Levell; Howard, Tierney, Plumptre; Simon, Pike, Whelan, Green, Purfield; Goodwin, Flint

We say: Reading Women 1-1 Leicester Women

A crucial fixture at the bottom of the WSL table, a first positive result of the season is guaranteed for at least one of these sides, with a win much needed for both Reading and Leicester.

Despite the pressure, expect little to separate the two teams on Sunday with a draw the most likely result.

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