Manchester City Women will look to bounce back from their European exit when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Sunday's meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women
The Citizens are sitting in fourth spot in the Women's Super League table, while the Seagulls are 10 points adrift in fifth position.
Match preview
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Brighton have undoubtedly made progress in Dario Vidosic's first season in charge, having already collected three more points than they did in the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign.
They are currently on course to achieve a top-half finish for the first time since 2020-21, with the Seagulls boasting a three-point buffer to Everton in seventh place.
However, they may have to improve upon their recent run of form if they are to hold on to a top-half spot, having won just one of their previous nine league matches (D3, L5).
The Seagulls should fancy their chances of taking something from Sunday's contest due to the fact that they are one of three teams yet to lose a WSL home match this season (W4, D4).
With that said, they are still searching for their first points in a WSL game against Man City, having lost each of their previous five head-to-head meetings in the competition's history.
Brighton may be concerned that they have conceded 25 goals across those five matches, including four in last season's 4-1 defeat at the Broadfield Stadium.
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Man City will be tired and downbeat after losing three of their four consecutive matches against Chelsea in all competitions.
The Citizens bounced back from a defeat in the Women's League Cup final to claim a 2-0 home win in the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final clash.
However, they were unable to build upon that result in last Sunday's league meeting, conceding late in a 2-1 defeat to leave them seven points adrift of the top three with just five league matches left to play.
The Citizens experienced more heartbreak in Thursday's UWCL second leg, shipping three first-half goals in a 3-0 defeat as their European journey came to a disappointing end.
Nick Cushing, who returned to the club just before the run of fixtures against Chelsea, will now have to lift his players for Sunday's contest, with the Citizens knowing that they have their work cut out if they are to secure European qualification for next season.
Man City have struggled for consistency in the league, demonstrated by the fact that their last 10 WSL matches have produced four wins, one draw and five defeats.
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Team News
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Brighton remain without the injured Jorelyn Carabali, while it remains to be seen whether any of Vicky Losada, Bex Raynor, Jelena Cankovic and Bruna Vilamala.
Marit Auee and Kiko Seike may be considered for starting opportunities after featuring as half-time substitutes last weekend.
Kirby will be looking to score in a third consecutive match after finding the net against Tottenham and Leicester.
As for the visitors, they are having to contend with a lengthy injury list, which includes Ayaka Yamashita, Risa Shimizu, Rebecca Knaak, Aoba Fujino, Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Bunny Shaw.
Cushing has confirmed that key attacker Lauren Hemp is still some way off from making her return from a knee injury.
Alex Greenwood is further along in her recovery process, although the England international remains unavailable for selection for the time being.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Loeck; Auee, Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Pattinson, Olislagers; Kirby, Symonds, Noordam; Haley, Parris
Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Keating; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri, Ouahabi; Roord, Hasegawa, Park; Kerolin, Fowler, Miedema
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion Women 1-1 Manchester City Women
Man City's squad is being tested to its limit due to the significant injury list and busy schedule, and we think that fatigue could play a part in Sunday's contest, which is why we believe that Brighton will do enough to hold the visitors to a draw.
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