Manchester City Women return from the winter break with an away trip to the English capital to face West Ham United Women in the Women's Super League on Sunday.
The Citizens are currently sat in fourth place in the WSL table, while the hosts are four points worse off in sixth position.
Match preview
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Paul Konchesky will be satisfied with West Ham's performances in the first half of the season, with their 10 league games split evenly between wins and defeats.
As a result of winning two of their last three WSL matches, West Ham ended 2022 in fifth place, although they have played one game more than the teams around them in the league table.
While the Hammers have signed Amber Tysiak during the transfer window, Grace Garrad, Claudia Walker, Alex Hennessy and Thea Kyvag have all left the club.
Although West Ham begin the new year with a difficult home game against a Manchester City side chasing Champions League qualification, they know that a win would move them to within one point of their opponents.
The hosts can draw inspiration from the fact that they have won four of their six home games in all competitions this season, including their last two home matches.
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City began the WSL season with two consecutive defeats, which ultimately put them on the back foot from the outset, but they have managed to remain in touch with the top three thanks to an impressive run of form.
After losing to Aston Villa and Chelsea in September, the Citizens recorded six consecutive league victories, scoring 17 goals and only conceding on three occasions in that period.
Their winning run was ended by their local rivals Manchester United in their final WSL game of 2022, but a second-half equaliser from Laura Coombs ensured that the derby fixture finished in a 1-1 draw, which extended City's unbeaten league run to seven matches.
However, the draw prevented City from closing the three-point gap to United, who occupy the third and final Champions League place.
Although both of their defeats in the top-flight this season have taken place on their travels, Gareth Taylor's side have won their last three away games in the WSL, and they will be determined to begin the new year with another win on Sunday.
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Team News
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While Jess Ziu is a long-term injury absentee, Konchesky has stated he has the majority of his squad available to him.
After announcing the signing of Tysiak from Oud-Heverlee Leuven on Friday, it is currently unclear whether the defender is eligible for Sunday's contest, but if the necessary paperwork is completed in time, she could feature on the bench.
Viviane Asseyi will look to add to the four league goals that she has scored this season, and the 29-year-old is expected to be joined in the front three by Lisa Evans and Izzy Atkinson.
As for the visitors, Taylor has revealed that he has a fully-fit squad to choose from for Sunday's contest.
Although over a month has passed since City drew 1-1 with their local rivals, Taylor could select the same side that started the derby game.
Khadija Shaw heads into the weekend as the joint-highest scorer in the WSL after registering eight goals in nine league appearances, and she will want to carry her impressive form into the second half of the season.
West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Shimizu, Fisk, Cissoko, Smith; Brynjarsdottir, Longhurst, Hayashi; Evans, Atkinson, Asseyi
Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Roebuck; Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Castellanos, Hasegawa, Coombs; Kelly, Hemp, Shaw
We say: West Ham United Women 1-3 Manchester City Women
Manchester City are unbeaten in seven league games, and we think that they will continue their impressive run of form by claiming a relatively comfortable victory over West Ham on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
