In-form Arsenal Women will travel to St Helens Stadium for Sunday's Women's Super League clash against Liverpool Women.
The Gunners are looking to claim a seventh consecutive victory in all competitions, while the hosts are hoping to end a run of three consecutive league defeats.
Match preview
Liverpool Women's Ceri Holland on December 11, 2024© Imago
Liverpool proved to be a tough team to beat in the opening stages of the WSL season, with their first six league games producing two wins, three draws and one defeat.
However, the Reds have experienced a dip in form in recent times, having lost each of their previous three WSL matches without troubling the scorers.
Liverpool began that losing run with a 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea, before they fell to a narrow 1-0 loss in the Merseyside derby against Everton.
The Reds then slumped to a heavy 4-0 defeat in last Sunday's home clash against Manchester United, leaving them in seventh place and one point adrift of the top half.
They did at least manage to avenge their Merseyside derby defeat in midweek, with substitute Mia Enderby netting a brace to help her side claim a 4-0 victory against Everton in the Women's League Cup.
While the result failed to prevent a group-stage exit, Liverpool will hope to use the confidence built from that comfortable win as they look to claim a home win over Arsenal for the first time in WSL history.
Arsenal Women's Alessia Russo in action on November 21, 2024© Imago
Renee Slegers is yet to taste defeat in her role as Arsenal interim boss, having overseen eight wins and one draw since taking over the reins from Jonas Eidevall in October.
The Gunners have recorded six consecutive victories since they played out a draw with Manchester United on November 3, including wins over Aston Villa and Valeranga following the international break.
Arsenal eased to a 4-0 victory in their WSL home clash against Villa, before they recorded a 3-1 win in Wednesday's European away clash against Valeranga, which came courtesy of an Alessia Russo brace and a Frida Maanmum effort.
The Gunners, who had already qualified for the quarter-finals, finished matchday five in second place and one point behind group leaders Bayern Munich ahead of next week's Women's Champions League meeting between the two sides.
Before they play host to Bayern, Arsenal will look to maintain their top-three spot in the WSL, with the Gunners sitting in third position and above fourth-placed Man United on goal difference.
Sunday's visitors will certainly fancy their chances of adding to their 18-point tally, having avoided defeat in each of their previous seven WSL away matches since they lost to Chelsea in March (W6, D2).
Liverpool Women Women's Super League form:
Liverpool Women form (all competitions):
W
L
L
W
L
W
Arsenal Women Women's Super League form:
Arsenal Women form (all competitions):
Team News
The hosts are without Lucy Parry, Rachael Laws, Faye Kirby, Gemma Evans, Marie Hobinger, Sofie Lundgaard and Sophie Roman Haug.
Republic of Ireland international Leanne Kiernan will miss out after picking up an injury in the midweek win over Everton.
After making a few changes in midweek, Liverpool boss Matt Beard may opt to recall Jasmine Matthews, Olivia Smith and Enderby.
As for the visitors, Slegers remains without the services of Victoria Pelova, Lia Walti and Amanda Ilestedt.
Kim Little is making progress in her injury recovery, but it remains to be seen whether she will be ready for Sunday's away trip.
After making several changes for Thursday's European outing, Slegers could decide to revert back to the team that started last Sunday's league win over Villa.
Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:
Micah; Fisk, Bonner, Matthews; Holland, Shaw, Nagano, Kapocs, Hinds; Enderby, Smith
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Cooney-Cross, Maanum; Mead, Caldentey, Foord; Russo
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We say: Liverpool Women 1-3 Arsenal Women
Arsenal will carry significant momentum into Sunday's fixture after winning each of their previous six competitive outings, and we think the confident Gunners will sweep past Liverpool to claim a relatively comfortable victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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