The first Women's Super League match of 2024 will take place on Friday, with Leicester Women set to play host to Aston Villa Women.
The Foxes begin the new year in eighth position in the WSL table, while the Villans are sitting just one point behind in ninth place.
Match preview
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After taking seven points from their opening three league games, Leicester went on to add just three more points to their tally in their next seven WSL matches.
Two of those points arrived in their final two league matches of 2023, as they played out consecutive draws against Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United.
While Leicester have failed to win a WSL game since October, they did manage to pick up a victory in last weekend's FA Cup clash with third-tier Derby.
Lena Petermann, Janice Cayman and Deanne Rose all got on the scoresheet before an own goal rounded off a comfortable 4-0 victory to set up a fifth-round tie against Championship outfit Birmingham City.
With the Foxes now set to turn their attention to Friday's league outing, Willie Kirk will be challenging his side to produce an improved attacking display, having failed to score more than one goal in four of their five home league games this season.
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After achieving a top-half finish last term, Aston Villa have been unable to match that success during the current campaign, having picked up just nine points from their 10 league matches.
The Villans began the WSL season with five consecutive defeats, before turning a corner with three wins in their next five league matches.
The most recent of those victories took place in their final game of 2023 when Adriana Leon netted the decisive goal against Brighton to move Aston Villa four points clear of the one and only relegation spot.
Despite finishing the calendar year on a positive note, Aston Villa began 2024 with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to fellow WSL side Everton in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Although the Villans will be downbeat following their cup exit, they may fancy their chances of beating Leicester after winning each of the last five competitive head-to-head meetings.
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Team News
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Leicester are unable to call upon defender CJ Bott and forward Hannah Cain due to calf and knee injuries respectively.
Saori Takarada and Yuka Momiki could be given their WSL debuts following their recent arrival from Swedish side Linkoping.
Having scored three goals in her last four competitive appearances, Petermann will look to continue her impressive run of form when she leads the line.
As for the visitors, they will be without Lucy Parker for an extended period after the 25-year-old recently underwent ankle surgery.
Parker is joined on the sidelines by fellow defender Danielle Turner, who picked up an injury against Man City in December.
Noelle Maritz made her debut last weekend after joining Aston Villa from Arsenal earlier this month, and she will retain her place in the side for the first WSL game of the new year.
Leicester Women possible starting lineup:
Leitzig; Green, Howard, Thibaud, Cayman; Tierney, Rantala, Takarada; Goodwin, Momiki, Petermann
Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:
Van Domselaar; Mayling, Patten, Corsie, Maritz; Dali, Staniforth, Nobbs; Leon, Hanson, Daly
We say: Leicester Women 1-1 Aston Villa Women
Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's FA Cup disappointment, but we think they may have to settle for a point against a Leicester side that has drawn three of their previous four league matches.
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