Arsenal Women will welcome Liverpool Women to the Emirates Stadium for Saturday’s Women’s Super League encounter.
The Gunners are sitting in second place in the WSL standings, while the visitors head into the weekend in fifth position.
Match preview
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Arsenal will be underwhelmed with their recent form, having lost two of their last three matches in all competitions.
Renee Slegers‘s side crashed out of the Women’s FA Cup with a 1-0 defeat against Liverpool, before they returned to winning ways with a 3-1 away victory over Everton in the WSL.
However, they were quickly stopped in their tracks by a disappointing trip to the Spanish capital, falling to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, leaving them with significant work to do in Wednesday’s home leg.
First, Arsenal will look to get revenge for their FA Cup exit in Saturday’s clash against Liverpool, with the hosts keen to strengthen their top-three position and move to within five points of leaders Chelsea.
The Gunners will take confidence from the fact they have won each of their last five WSL home matches, scoring at least four goals in each of those games while keeping four clean sheets in that period.
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Liverpool interim boss Amber Whiteley boasts a perfect record since taking over the reins following the club’s decision to part ways with Matt Beard.
Whitley began her tenure with a 1-0 away win against Crystal Palace, before her side offered a repeat of that scoreline in their fifth-round FA Cup clash against Arsenal at Meadow Park.
The interim manager enjoyed more success in her first home match, with Olivia Smith netting a brace alongside a Fuka Nagano effort to fire the Reds to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the WSL.
After collecting a third consecutive home league win, the Reds will now head on their travels with hopes of claiming a win which would move them above fifth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.
Liverpool enjoyed success in their most recent visit to the Emirates Stadium in October 2023 when they claimed a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a Miri Taylor effort.
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Team News
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The Gunners are likely to be without the services of goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Caitlin Foord and Chloe Kelly are pushing for starting spots after featuring as half-time substitutes against Real Madrid in midweek.
There could also be recalls for Lia Walti and Frida Maanum, with Slegers looking to keep her squad fresh amid the busy schedule.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Sofie Lundgaard and Hannah Silcock, who are both sidelined with knee injuries.
Gemma Bonner, Grace Fisk, Ceri Holland and Leanne Kiernan are all available for selection after missing the win over Man United through illness.
Smith will continue to offer one of Liverpool’s main goal threats, having scored six goals in 15 league matches this season.
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Catley; Walti, Maanum; Kelly, Caldentey, Foord; Russo
Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:
Laws; Matthews, Clark, Bernabe; Kapocs, Holland, Kerr, Hobinger, Hinds; Haug, Smith
We say: Arsenal Women 1-1 Liverpool Women
Arsenal will be keen to return to winning ways following their disappointing trip to Madrid, but there is a risk that any tiredness could play into Liverpool’s hands, and we think the confident visitors will do enough to take a point from Saturday’s contest.
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