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

Reigning Women's Super League champions Chelsea Women will make the trip across the English capital to face London rivals Tottenham Hotspur Ladies on Sunday.

While Spurs have lost their last five league games, Chelsea are unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions.

Match preview

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Spurs achieved a top-half finish last season, but they have a mountain to climb if they are to replicate that feat this time around.

Rehanne Skinner's side are currently sat in eighth place, and although they have at least one game in hand over the teams around them, they are currently seven points adrift of the top six.

Tottenham have lost five consecutive league matches, and with six points separating them from the one and only relegation place, they may be looking downwards rather than up.

They would have at least taken confidence from their comfortable FA Cup victory last weekend, thrashing Championship leaders London City Lionesses 5-0 thanks to strikes from Bethany England, Mana Iwabuchi, Drew Spence, Evelina Summanen and a Harley Bennett own goal.

However, Spurs will be fully aware that they will face one of the toughest opponents that the WSL has to offer this weekend, and after losing their last three home league matches by a combined 8-0 scoreline, they will have their work cut out to pick up a positive result on Sunday.

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Meanwhile, Chelsea have only played one league game in 2023 after their home meeting with Liverpool two weeks ago was abandoned after six minutes due to a frozen pitch.

Emma Hayes's team were subsequently knocked off the top of the WSL table on goal difference by Manchester United, while Arsenal have played a game less than the top two and are three points further back in third place.

Chelsea recently claimed an away victory over Saturday's opponents, beating Spurs 3-1 in the League Cup on January 25 to set up a semi-final tie with West Ham, which will take place on Thursday.

The Blues also progressed in the FA Cup last weekend with Sam Kerr scoring a hat-trick to guide Chelsea to a 3-2 victory over Liverpool.

Arsenal await the Blues in the next round of the FA Cup, but they will be fully focused on Sunday's game, where they will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to 19 games in all competitions.

Team News

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Tottenham are unable to call upon Kyah Simon, Kit Graham, Ellie Brazil, Ria Percival and Ramona Petzelberger due to injury issues.

Iwabuchi joined Spurs on loan from North London rivals Arsenal in January, and after scoring her first goal for Tottenham last weekend, she will retain her place in the side.

Eveliina Summanen dropped out of the lineup for the FA Cup victory over London City Lionessess, but she is expected to return to the starting XI for Sunday's encounter.

As for the visitors, they are still without the services of Pernille Harder, who is a long-term injury absentee.

After returning from maternity leave, Melanie Leupolz made her first Chelsea appearance since December 2021 when she featured as a late substitute against Liverpool, and she is expected to be on the bench once again for Sunday's away fixture.

Hayes could make a couple of changes to her side, with Magdalena Eriksson and Sophie Ingle expected to be presented with starting places.

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies possible starting lineup:

Korpela; Neville, Bartrip, Zadorsky; Bizet, Spence, Summanen, Harrop; Iwabuchi, Ayane, England

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Musovic; Charles, Buchanan, Bright, Eriksson; Cuthbert, Ingle; James, Kirby, Reiten; Kerr

We say: Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 0-3 Chelsea Women

Chelsea have already beaten Tottenham on two occasions this season, winning 3-0 in the WSL and 3-1 in the League Cup, and we think that they will claim another comfortable victory on Sunday.

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