Preview: Liverpool Women vs. West Ham United Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Liverpool Women will look to end a seven-game winless run in the Women's Super League when they play host to West Ham United Women on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will have the chance to record their third consecutive victory in all competitions.

Match preview

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Liverpool have failed to win any of their last seven league games since claiming a surprise victory over Chelsea on the opening weekend of the season.

They at least managed to end a run of five consecutive WSL defeats when they come from behind to draw 3-3 with Brighton & Hove Albion, and they looked set to record their second league win of the season in their most recent league outing against Reading.

Katie Stengel opened the scoring before the Royals scored two goals to turn the contest on its head, but Stengel's second goal of the game and a Rhiannon Roberts strike helped Liverpool wrestle back control.

However, Matt Beard's side were unable to hold on as Sanne Troelsgaard scored an 89th-minute equaliser to deny Liverpool the three points.

After playing out consecutive 3-3 draws, the Reds returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup last weekend, and they will hope to use that result as a springboard to begin a positive run of form in the league.

While Liverpool currently sit in 10th position with five points to their name, sixth-placed West Ham are seven points better off than their hosts.

The Hammers bounced back from consecutive defeats to secure a narrow victory against Leicester City in their most recent league game.

Izzy Atkinson scored a late winner to guide West Ham to a 1-0 win over the Foxes, and they followed that result with another victory last weekend.

Goals from Kate Longhurst and Dagny Brynjarsdottir helped Paul Konchesky's side beat second-tier Birmingham City 2-0 in the League Cup, providing the Hammers with the opportunity to record three straight victories this weekend.

Although West Ham have lost two of their three away league games this season, both of those defeats came against title-chasing Arsenal and reigning champions Chelsea.

Team News

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Beard has the majority of his Liverpool squad to choose from, with Leanne Kiernan the only known injury absentee.

Rachael Laws has been sidelined for the last three games, but the goalkeeper is expected to return to the starting lineup on Sunday.

Stengel will lead the line for the Reds, and she will be looking to add to the six goals that she has scored in all competitions this season.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of Jess Ziu, Lucy Parker and Emma Snerle due to injury issues.

After naming a strong side for the League Cup win over Birmingham, Konchesky could select an unchanged lineup for Sunday's contest.

With four league goals to her name, Viviane Asseyi will be one of West Ham's main goal threats, and she will be joined in the front three by Lisa Evans and Izzy Atkinson.

Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:
Laws; Koivisto, Fahey, Matthews, Hinds; Holland, Wardlaw, Furness; Van de Sanden, Lawley, Stengel

West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Shimizu, Fisk, Stringer, Smith; Brynjarsdottir, Longhurst, Hayashi; Evans, Atkinson, Asseyi

We say: Liverpool Women 1-2 West Ham United Women

Although Liverpool have drawn their last two league games, the WSL table suggests that West Ham are the stronger of the two sides, and we think that they will edge out their hosts to claim a third consecutive victory in all competitions.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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