Birmingham City Women welcome Everton Ladies to St Andrew's Stadium on Friday evening, currently sitting bottom of the Women's Super League and eight points from safety.

With five games remaining, Darren Carter's side must win at least three matches to retain their top-flight status, and with fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester City to come, this week's outing is crucial for the hosts.

Match preview

The Blues have only managed to secure one win so far this season, which came from a surprising 2-0 victory against then league leaders Arsenal, suggesting that three wins from their last five matches may be out of their reach.

Carter's side were due to travel to the Academy Stadium to face Man City on Sunday, but that match was postponed due to an outbreak of coronavirus in the visitors' squad.

That means their last outing came in the FA Cup on March 20, when Birmingham crashed out of that competition with a heavy 5-0 defeat against reigning champions Chelsea.

Birmingham were just edged out by West Ham in their last league outing, falling to a 1-0 defeat, and that certainly pushed the Blues further towards the Championship.

Everton have also struggled to make their presence felt in the division this season, and being on home soil, Birmingham cannot afford to let this opportunity to collect three points slip away from them.

Interim boss Chris Roberts has guided his side to safety this season, but he will want his team to finish the season with a string of good results to gain some confidence ahead of the next campaign.

The Toffees got off to the perfect start at Old Trafford last weekend, when Claire Emslie gave the visitors an early lead, but Manchester United went on to turn the game around and sent Everton to a 3-1 defeat.

Everton currently sit ninth in the table, seven points behind Reading, who sit just above the Toffees, suggesting that the position they occupy now is likely to be where they end the season in a few weeks time.

Roberts's side will be heading to St Andrew's looking to return home with three points, and they will view Friday's outing as a good opportunity to collect maximum points given Birmingham's position.

In the last meeting between these two sides, Everton came out on top with a 3-1 win thanks to goals from Leonie Maier, Hanna Bennison and Rikke Sevecke.

Team News

Carter will have to assess the fitness of those who tested positive for coronavirus but is still expected to operate in a 5-3-2 formation, with Libby Smith and Veatriki Sarri leading the line.

Gemma Lawley, Louise Quinn and Harriet Scott will make up the heart of the defensive line, while Rebecca Holloway and Jamie Finn will look to provide width from their wing-back roles.

There is no new injury or suspension concerns for either side, meaning that Everton could name a similar lineup to the side that started at Old Trafford last weekend.

Kenza Dali returned to the starting 11 along with Poppy Pattinson, and they are both expected to start either side of a midfield three including Izzy Christiansen, Aurora Galli and Lucy Graham.

Toni Duggan replaced Simone Magill up top, and the former is likely to retain her place and lead the line for the visitors, with Friday presenting a good opportunity to add to her tally of two goals this season, given Birmingham's leaky defence.

Birmingham City Women possible starting lineup:
Hourihan; Holloway, Scott, Louise Quinn, Lawley, Finn; Lucy Quinn, Robertson, Murray; Smith, Sarri

Everton Ladies possible starting lineup:
MacIver; George, Finnigan, Bjorn, Turner; Dali, Christiansen, Graham, Galli, Pattinson; Duggan

We say: Birmingham City Women 2-1 Everton Ladies

Birmingham are certain to show courage on Friday, as they now have nothing to lose and have to go for all three points, which could work in their favour especially by getting their own crowd behind them.

Everton will understand that Birmingham are fighting for their lives at the bottom and so will not go into this game lightly, but with not much to play for, the hosts should be able to use that to their advantage.

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