Chelsea Women continue their quest to catch current league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday evening, when they host seventh-placed West Ham United Women at Kingsmeadow.

The Blues will have to pick up their form to make up the four-point gap to top spot, having only won once in their last five games in all competitions, while the Hammers are aiming to record back-to-back wins for just the second time in the Women's Super League this season.

Match preview

Emma Hayes's side's form has dipped ever since they were victorious at Wembley on December 5, when they lifted last season's FA Cup, and they struggled to break down a stubborn Brighton & Hove Albion defence last time out.

On Sunday, Chelsea travelled to the People's Pension Stadium and created 26 chances on the Seagulls' goal, but they dropped two points as they were held to a goalless draw.

The Blues were fortunate that Arsenal also only picked up a single point on the weekend, meaning that their lead at the top was not extended, but Hayes's team did drop down to third spot after Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur, albeit Chelsea have games in hand to their advantage.

Chelsea's next three WSL games are all to be played on home soil, and that is likely to help the Blues given their 100% record at Kingsmeadow this season, also only conceding once in those four matches.

This meeting on Wednesday is the first between these two teams in the league this campaign, but it will be the second time Chelsea face Olli Harder's side in a week, having knocked the Hammers out of the League Cup last Wednesday.

Goals from West Ham's Katerina Svitkova and Halle Houssein were not enough to get the better of Chelsea, who eased into the semi-final thanks to a strike from Erin Cuthbert and a hat-trick from Pernille Harder.

West Ham are looking steady for a mid-table finish this season, currently sitting seventh, well clear of relegation but unlikely to catch the teams fighting for a Champions League place.

Harder's side do enter this clash on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Everton on the weekend, the goals coming from Svitkova, Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Claudia Walker.

That victory perhaps came as no surprise considering that the Hammers have not lost a WSL game on their own patch this season, but in contrast, they have only won once on their travels, suggesting that Chelsea are strong favourites for Wednesday's encounter.

However, the Hammers have been able to pull off some shock results this campaign, most notably beating Manchester City 2-0 at the Academy Stadium in October, and they could be helped having played Chelsea last week to learn from their mistakes in that League Cup defeat.

Team News

Hayes made just two changes to her side for their league match at Brighton on Sunday from the team that defeated West Ham in the cup, with Guro Reiten and Drew Spence coming back into the side.

Chelsea are likely to stick with a front three including Fran Kirby, Harder and Jessie Fleming, in the absence of Australian striker Samantha Kerr, who is away on international duty in the Asian Cup, along with South Korean midfielder Ji So-Yun.

Centre-back Magdalena Eriksson has not featured for the side since December 16 and she will remain sidelined due to injury, but there are no new injury concerns for Hayes to deal with.

West Ham defender Hawa Cissoko was sent off in their London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, but she could return to the side after serving her suspension last time out.

Youngster Houssein, who arrived at West Ham on loan from Arsenal this month, will have been boosted by her goal against the Blues last week, but she is expected to start on the bench and come on as an impact substitute.

After a positive result on Sunday, Harder may opt to pick the same starting 11, which will set up in a 4-4-2 formation with Abbey-Leigh Stringer and Zaneta Wyne protecting the middle of the pitch.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Berger; Nouwen, Carter, Bright; Reiten, Ingle, Andersson, Cuthbert; Kirby, Harder, Fleming

West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Leat; Longhurst, Fisk, Parker, Flaherty; Svitkova, Stringer, Wyne, Evans; Brynjarsdottir, Walker

We say: Chelsea Women 2-1 West Ham United Women

West Ham are likely to be a tough opposition for Chelsea to break down, especially after facing each other last week which should help the visitors be more resilient to Chelsea's pressure.

That is why it could be a tight affair on Wednesday, but the Blues are expected to get the three points with their quality in attack, especially through Harder after her hat-trick last week.

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