Preview: Tottenham Hotspur Ladies vs. Leicester Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, will be in a positive mood after they secured their first points of the season with a win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Match preview

Tottenham Hotspur finished the 2021-22 campaign in fifth place, but if they are to secure a top-half finish this term, they will need to halt a poor run of results.

Spurs began the season with three wins from five league games, but since they recorded a memorable 8-0 win over Brighton at the end of October, they have lost five consecutive WSL matches.

Rehanne Skinner's side conceded 11 goals across those five defeats, while they only found the net on one occasion, suggesting there is work to do at both ends of the pitch.

The Tottenham boss would have been disappointed with last Saturday's result against Aston Villa, after Bethany England scored on her debut to give Spurs the lead in the 28th minute, but goals from Kenza Dali and Rachel Daly gave the Villans a 2-1 lead at half time, and with the North London club unable to find an equaliser, the new year began with another defeat.

Spurs currently sit in eighth position, with six points separating them from the top half of the table, but they may go into Sunday's game with some belief after beating Leicester 2-1 on the opening weekend of the season.

Leicester finally ended their 16-game winless run in the WSL last weekend, courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Brighton.

After beginning the campaign with nine consecutive league defeats, Aileen Whelan, Sam Tierney and Monique Robinson all got on the scoresheet to help the Foxes claim their first points of the season.

Although Leicester remain in the one and only relegation place, they closed the gap to safety to four points, and there will now be a belief among the squad that they can mount an escape bid.

Willie Kirk's side were also in action in midweek, facing Manchester City in the group stage of the League Cup, and although the contest looked to be heading towards a goalless draw, Filippa Angeldal scored a 90th-minute winner to condemn Leicester to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

That result confirmed Leicester's elimination from the League Cup, and they will now turn their attention to Sunday's meeting with Spurs, where they will be looking to follow their win over Brighton with their first away victory of the WSL season.

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Women's Super League form:

W

L

L

L

L

L

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies form (all competitions):

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:

L

L

L

L

L

W

Leicester Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Tottenham are without a number of players due to injury, including Kit Graham, Kyah Simon, Ellie Brazil, Ria Percival and Ramona Petzelberger.

Jess Naz is a doubt after missing the defeat to Aston Villa through injury, and while Amy Turner was withdrawn in the first half because of illness, she is expected to be fit for Sunday's contest.

After joining on loan from North London rivals Arsenal, Mana Iwabuchi may have a role to play off the bench against Leicester.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the injured trio Jess Sigsworth, Lachante Paul and Josie Green, while January signing Remy Siemsen is also unavailable as she continues her work to get to full fitness.

Kirk has stated that he has no new injury concerns ahead of Sunday's encounter, but Georgia Brougham will not be involved after her contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Should everyone be available, Kirk could be tempted to select the same lineup that started the 3-0 win against Brighton last weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies possible starting lineup:

Korpela, Turner, Bartrip, Zadorsky, Ale; James, Summanen; Bizet, Spence, Ayane; England

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Leitzig; Bott, Howard, Plumptre, Purfield; Tierney, Pike; Cain, Whelan, Jones; Goodwin

We say: Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 1-1 Leicester Women

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