Brighton & Hove Albion Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be in action for the final time in 2024 when they lock horns at the Broadfield Stadium on Sunday.
The Seagulls are sitting in fifth spot in the Women's Super League table, while Spurs are six points further back in sixth position.
Match preview
Brighton & Hove Albion Women's Nikita Parris celebrates after scoring on November 3, 2024© Imago
Last weekend, Brighton dropped from third to fifth position after falling to a 4-2 defeat in their away meeting with reigning WSL champions Chelsea.
Jelena Cankovic scored against her former club to have the deficit following two Chelsea goals, before Kiko Seike found the net to set up an exciting finale after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had restored her team's two-goal cushion.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, their hopes of salvaging a point were quashed by Sjoeke Nusken's stoppage-time effort, condemning them to their third away defeat of the season.
While they would have been disappointed with the defeat, Brighton will still be pleased with their overall efforts this season, having collected 16 points from nine league matches, leaving them just three points adrift of their total points tally from the 2023-24 campaign.
The Seagulls have also enjoyed success in the Women's League Cup, including a dominant 6-2 home win over Bristol City on Wednesday to seal top spot in their group and a place in the quarter-finals.
They will now turn their focus back to league action, with Brighton looking to maintain their unbeaten home record in the WSL after winning four and drawing one of their five home games in the top flight this season.
Tottenham Hotspur Women's Jessica Naz celebrates after scoring on September 22, 2024© Imago
Like their hosts, Spurs will also be in the Women's League Cup quarter-finals after they beat Crystal Palace in midweek to seal top spot in Group E.
Matilda Vinberg and Araya Dennis grabbed a goal apiece in the second half to fire Robert Vilahamn's side to a 2-0 away victory.
That result represented a third consecutive win in all competitions after Spurs previously beat Aston Villa and Everton in the Women's League Cup and WSL respectively.
Tottenham claimed a 2-1 victory over the Toffees last weekend to make it three wins in five league games - a significant contrast to their poor form on the road.
In fact, Spurs are one of five teams yet to win a WSL away game this season, having taken just one point from their four away league matches in 2024-25.
Tottenham have shipped more away goals than any other team in the WSL with 14 goals conceded, highlighting a key area for improvement if they are to spark an upturn in fortunes on their travels.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women Women's Super League form:
Brighton & Hove Albion Women form (all competitions):
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Tottenham Hotspur Women Women's Super League form:
Tottenham Hotspur Women form (all competitions):
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Team News
Brighton & Hove Albion Women's Kiko Seike celebrates with the match ball on September 21, 2024© Imago
Brighton boss Dario Vidosic is unable to call upon the injured quartet of Maria Thorisdottir, Maisie Symonds, Aisha Masaka and Fran Kirby.
After making some changes in midweek, Vidosic could recall Sophie Baggaley, Cankovic and Seike for Saturday's league fixture.
Nikita Parris will also come back into the starting lineup, with the striker looking to add to the five competitive goals she has scored this season.
As for the visitors, Ella Morris recently joined Kit Graham on the sidelines after she sustained a knee injury while away with the England Under-23 squad.
Goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer will have to be assessed after being absent from the last two matchday squads due to illness.
Maite Oroz could make her first league start since returning from injury after gaining valuable minutes in Tottenham's last two matches.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Baggaley; McLauchlan, Bergsvand, Carabali; Olislagers, Cankovic, Losada, Pattison; Seike, Vilamala; Parris
Tottenham Hotspur Women possible starting lineup:
Heeps; Neville, Hunt, Bartrip, Nilden; Oroz, Summanen; Raso, Spence, Naz; England
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We say: Brighton & Hove Albion Women 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur Women
Brighton have won four of their five home league games this season, and while they will be tested by Tottenham this weekend, we think they will make full use of home advantage to end the calendar year with a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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