Women’s Super League Preview: Liverpool Women vs. Crystal Palace Women
This Sunday, the Women’s Super League (WSL) will see an exciting clash as Liverpool Women host Crystal Palace Women at St Helens Stadium. With both teams eager to secure vital points, this match promises to be a thrilling encounter. Currently, Liverpool sits in fifth place in the WSL table, while Crystal Palace finds itself in eighth position, just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Match Preview
Liverpool Women have had a mixed start to their WSL campaign, recording one win, two draws, and one loss in their first five matches. The Reds began their season with back-to-back draws before securing a dramatic 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, thanks to a late winner. However, their momentum was halted last weekend when they suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, conceding a stoppage-time goal that left them disappointed.
Despite their struggles at home, Liverpool will be looking to turn their fortunes around and claim their first home WSL win of the season. Their last competitive meeting with Crystal Palace ended in a resounding 4-0 victory for the Reds in January 2022, and they will be hoping to replicate that performance.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace Women have had a challenging start to the season, with one win and three losses in their four WSL matches. After a heavy 4-0 defeat to Tottenham and a staggering 7-0 loss to Chelsea, the Eagles managed to bounce back with a 2-0 victory against Leicester City. However, they were unable to build on that success, suffering a narrow defeat to Brighton last weekend, where a solitary goal from Bruna Vilamala sealed their fate.
As Palace prepares for this crucial away fixture, they know that a victory could propel them above Liverpool in the standings, adding extra motivation to their performance.
Team News
In terms of team news, Liverpool’s forward Olivia Smith, who was substituted at halftime against Manchester City, has been declared fit for the match. However, manager Matt Beard will have to make late decisions regarding the availability of defender Grace Fisk, who is nearing a return after missing the first five competitive games of the season. Unfortunately, Liverpool will be without Sophia Roman Haug due to an ankle injury, along with Faye Kirby, Teagan Micah, and Sofie Lundgaard, who are all sidelined with various injuries.
For Crystal Palace, they will continue to miss the services of Elise Hughes and Hayley Nolan, who are recovering from knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. Former Liverpool striker Katie Stengel will be eager to make an impact against her old club, as she searches for her first goal since joining Palace in the summer. Additionally, Shanade Hopcroft is expected to feature off the bench after returning from injury.
Possible Lineups
Liverpool Women:
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Starting XI: Laws; Clark, Bonner, Matthews; Parry, Hobinger, Nagano, Kapocs, Hinds; Smith, Enderby
Crystal Palace Women:
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Starting XI: Yanez; Green, Everett, Veje, Gibbons; Potter, Cato; Gejl, Blanchard, Riley; Stengel
Prediction
As both teams prepare for this crucial encounter, Liverpool will be motivated to respond positively after their first league defeat of the season. Given Crystal Palace’s inconsistent form and their struggles in recent matches, we predict that Liverpool Women will secure a 2-0 victory at home. The Reds will look to capitalize on their home advantage and deliver a strong performance to claim all three points.
For more insights and data analysis on the most likely results and scorelines for this match, you can visit Sports Mole’s match page.
As the WSL season progresses, every match becomes crucial, and this clash between Liverpool and Crystal Palace is no exception. Fans can expect an engaging battle on the pitch as both teams strive for success in the league.