Women's Super League leaders Arsenal Women welcome bottom-placed Birmingham City Women to Meadow Park on Sunday, when the Gunners could go eight points clear of Chelsea, albeit with the second-placed side having three games in hand.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, Birmingham are currently eight points adrift of safety, and with only seven games left to play, the Blues need to start picking up some victories.
Match preview
After last season's FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea in December, Jonas Eidevall's side went on a poor run by their standards, but they have seemingly turned their fortunes back around into title-winning form.
Arsenal extended their current unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches last time out on Wednesday, when they recorded a comfortable 4-0 win against Reading.
Vivianne Miedema, Katie McCabe and Leah Williamson were all on target in the first half of that outing, before Stina Blackstenius added the fourth 20 minutes from time.
With Chelsea missing WSL action this weekend as they play in the final of the League Cup, the Gunners have an opportunity to pile on the pressure for the reigning champions by extending the gap to the top, forcing Chelsea to win every game in hand.
The Gunners will certainly have more possession than their visitors on Sunday, and they are likely to score more than one given their attacking record on home soil, where they have netted 26 goals in eight league matches.
Birmingham are in desperate need of picking up some points as the season enters the final sprint, and they will look to build off a positive result in the FA Cup last time out.
Darren Carter's side travelled to face Championship outfit Durham on Sunday, and they progressed in that competition thanks to a 78th-minute strike from Louise Quinn.
However, last time out in WSL action before the international break in February, Birmingham tasted their 13th defeat of the campaign, falling to a 2-0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.
In their remaining seven fixtures, the Blues have to play three of the division's top five teams, starting with Arsenal on Sunday, but they must find a way to pick up positive results if they are to retain their top-flight status.
A mimic of the result Birmingham achieved in the reverse of this fixture would be welcomed by the away side this weekend, having secured a shock 2-0 win against Arsenal in January, the Blues' only victory this season and Arsenal's only defeat.
- L
- D
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
- W
Team News
Eidevall has the same squad available to him as he did on Wednesday, meaning that Blackstenius will continue to lead the line with Miedema continuing in a slightly deeper role.
Beth Mead could return to the starting 11 in place of Caitlin Foord on the left side of the front three, also made up by McCabe on the opposite side.
Noelle Maritz, Williamson, Rafaelle and Steph Catley are expected to remain as the back four, and they are likely to be less busy than Birmingham's defensive line.
The Blues do not tend to alter their starting 11 much, meaning that Gemma Lawley, Quinn and Rebecca Holloway are expected to start as a back three, which will be seen as a back five with Lisa Robertson and Jamie Finn dropping deeper in their wing-back roles.
Libby Smith, Lucy Quinn and Jade Pennock will be responsible for creating Birmingham's attacking moments, which are likely to be few and far between given the expected dominance from the hosts.
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Catley, Rafaelle, Williamson, Maritz; Walti, Miedema, Little; Mead, Blackstenius, McCabe
Birmingham City Women possible starting lineup:
Ramsey; Holloway, Louise Quinn, Lawley; Robertson, Sarri, Murray, Finn; Lucy Quinn, Pennock; Smith
We say: Arsenal Women 3-0 Birmingham City Women
Following a dominant performance against Reading and after defeat in the reverse fixture, Arsenal are expected to respond in a professional manner and claim their revenge on the bottom side.
The Gunners are hitting a winning run at a good time in the season to close in on the finish, and there is little Birmingham will be able to do to stop the league leaders on Sunday.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
