Preview: Leicester Women vs. West Ham United Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Relegation-threatened Leicester Women be looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they play host to West Ham United Women on Sunday.

The visitors, who are not mathematically safe, will be hoping to end their poor run of form after failing to win any of their previous 10 league games.

Match preview

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Leicester will view Sunday's contest as a golden opportunity to pick up points after facing tough opposition in their last two matches.

The Foxes battled valiantly in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, but they were swept aside by reigning WSL champions Chelsea in their most recent outing, falling to a disappointing 6-0 loss.

With two games left to play in the WSL season, Leicester are sitting in 11th place with a two-point gap to basement side Reading.

Leicester could secure their WSL safety this weekend if Reading fail to beat Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and they pick up all three points against West Ham.

Having won their last two home matches against Reading and Liverpool, the Foxes will be hoping that home advantage can be a deciding factor on Sunday.

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With six points separating them from the sole relegation place, West Ham are unlikely to be relegated, but that does not mean that confidence is high in the Hammer's squad.

The Hammers are yet to win a league game in 2023, having failed to win any of their 10 WSL matches (D2, L8) that have taken place in the current calendar year.

Paul Konchesky's side were brushed aside via a 4-0 scoreline in their midweek encounter against Chelsea, representing their third consecutive defeat.

West Ham will now head on their travels where they will be looking to avoid a sixth consecutive away defeat in the top flight.

The visitors do have the chance to complete a league double over the Foxes after winning November's reverse fixture by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.

Team News

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Leicester boss Willie Kirk is hopeful that he will have a fully-fit squad to choose from, with Sophie Howard closing in on a return to action.

With Ashleigh Plumptre one yellow card away from suspension, Kirk decided to leave the centre-back out of the squad last time out, but the Nigeria international could be brought back into the side.

Molly Pike could also return to the starting lineup after she dropped down to the bench for the defeat to Chelsea.

As for the Hammers, long-term absentee Jess Ziu continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which has kept her sidelined since October.

Amber Tysiak made her full West Ham debut in midweek, but she may have to settle for a place on the bench on Sunday.

After dropping out of the side in midweek, Emma Snerle is likely to return to the starting XI against Leicester.

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Leitzig; Bott, Plumptre, Nevin, Purfield; Mace, Tierney; Pike, Green, Whelan; Cain

West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:

Arnold; Shimizu, Fisk, Cissoko, Smith; Evans, Longhurst, Tysiak, Snerle; Brynsjarsdottir; Asseyi

We say: Leicester Women 1-0 West Ham United Women

Although Leicester suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Chelsea in their most recent outing, they have managed to win their last two home games, and we think that they will make full use of home advantage to edge out a West Ham side that are low on confidence following a 10-game winless league run.

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