Chelsea Women will return to Women's Super League action when they welcome Manchester United Women to Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
The hosts are currently sitting top of the table with 25 points to their name, while the Red Devils are seven points adrift in fourth place.
Match preview
Having won eight of their 10 league matches, Chelsea are currently in pole position to win the WSL title for a fifth consecutive season.
Although they are three points clear of the closest rivals, the Blues still have considerable work to do, with 12 league matches left to play in the 2023-24 season.
Chelsea are still competing on four fronts in Emma Hayes's final season in charge after they fought back to beat West Ham United in last weekend's FA Cup fourth-round contest.
Mia Fishel cancelled out Viviane Asseyi's 18th-minute opener to take the tie to extra time, before Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones grabbed a goal apiece to send the Blues through to the fifth round.
The Blues will fancy their chances of claiming all three points in their first league outing of the new year, having won each of their previous 20 WSL home games since playing out a goalless draw with Arsenal in February 2022.
After finishing just two points behind Chelsea last season, Man United came into the current campaign with hopes of mounting another title challenge.
However, their title aspirations are already hanging by a thread, having dropped points in half of their 10 league games this season.
Despite struggling for consistency in the top flight, Man United enjoyed a comfortable outing in last Sunday's FA Cup meeting with Newcastle United.
The Red Devils swept aside their third-tier opponents via a 5-0 scoreline thanks to a Nikita Parris brace and goals from Ella Toone, Rachel Williams and Melvine Malard.
Marc Skinner's side will now head on their travels for their first away match of 2024, and they will be looking to continue their impressive form on the road, having avoided defeat in their previous eight away league games since losing to Chelsea in March 2023.
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Team News
Chelsea are unable to call upon their star striker Sam Kerr after the Australian sustained a season-ending knee injury during the club's training camp in Morocco.
The Blues are also expected to be without the services of Millie Bright, Aniek Nouwen, Katerina Svitkova and Catarina Macario.
Nathalie Bjorn, who completed a move from Everton earlier this month, is expected to be among the substitutes after she came off the bench to make her debut in the FA Cup win over West Ham.
As for the Red Devils, their injury list features Gabby George, Hinata Miyazawa, Emma Watson and Evie Rabjohn.
Aoife Mannion is closing in on a return to fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but Sunday's contest is expected to come too soon for the defender.
Norway international Lisa Naalsund is likely to feature among the substitutes after recovering from a knock that kept her out of the FA Cup win over Newcastle United.
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Berger; Lawrence, Buchanan, Carter, Charles; Ingle, Cuthbert; James, Kirby, Reiten; Fishel
Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:
Earps; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Parris, Toone, Galton; Malard
We say: Chelsea Women 2-1 Manchester United Women
Although Chelsea are unable to call upon their talismanic striker, we still believe they have enough quality in their squad to get the better of Man United, who have lost each of their last seven competitive meetings.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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