Manchester City Women can climb into third spot for the first time this season, in the Women's Super League on Saturday, when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Academy Stadium.

Gareth Taylor's side currently sit one point behind rivals Manchester United with a game in hand to their advantage, while the Seagulls are looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats.

Match preview

The Citizens have been chasing down the top three ever since a poor start to the campaign had them making up ground, but as they play before Man United this weekend, they have the opportunity to leapfrog Marc Skinner's side.

Saturday's hosts are in superb form, having won their last 10 games in all competitions, most recently defeating Leicester City 4-0 last Sunday, thanks to goals from Caroline Weir, Lauren Hemp, Julie Blakstad and Alex Greenwood.

As the WSL enters the final week of the season, Man City face no team currently above seventh spot, making them strong favourites to clinch the final spot in the top three, as they are expected to win their remaining matches.

A remarkable turnaround since November has largely been down to the amount of goals City have managed to score both home and away, but defensively they have also been very strong, having kept six WSL clean sheets in a row ahead of this weekend's outing.

Man City have finished in the top three for the last seven seasons, and the belief in Taylor's side is that they can certainly extend that to eight campaigns, with their fortunes in their own hands with their game in hand.

Hope Powell's side have been far too inconsistent this season, and last weekend's 3-1 defeat against bottom-placed Birmingham City demonstrates that there is a lot of work to do on the south coast if the club are to achieve their new women's football strategy.

Earlier this month, Brighton unveiled their plan to grow women's football at the club, which involves the senior side becoming a top-four club in the WSL, a feat that they are currently 13 points away from.

However, the side guided by Powell have been improving, as if they find one more win in their remaining two matches this season, they will set a new record points tally and total number of wins in Brighton's history in the WSL.

The Seagulls will have to be at their best to reach that target this weekend, though, given Man City's impeccable form and their own difficulties of late, in particular scoring enough goals to pick up points.

Brighton certainly have to improve on their last result against Man City which came in January, when Taylor's side were emphatic 6-0 winners in Crawley, courtesy of an own goal from Victoria Williams, and strikes from Hemp, Georgia Stanway, Laura Coombs, Hayley Raso and Vicky Losada.

Team News

Captain Steph Houghton remains sidelined for Man City, but no new injury or suspension concerns need to worry Taylor in his selection for this weekend's match, but with the strength and depth at his disposal, there is likely to be some changes to the starting 11.

Stanway is expected to return in midfield, where Losada, who has not featured since February, remains absent due to injury, while Keira Walsh and Weir will also operate in the middle of the park.

Khadija Shaw is in contention to make the starting 11, in a front three alongside Hemp and Chloe Kelly or Ellen White leading the line centrally.

Megan Walsh returned between the posts for Brighton last time out, and the number one will retain her place in goal, with Emma Kullberg, Williams, Danique Kerkdijk, Maya Le Tissier and Emma Koivisto expected to make up a defensive shape for the Seagulls.

Megan Connolly returned to the starting lineup last time out, and she will operate in midfield with Julia Zigiotti and Aileen Whelan, while Geum-Min Lee could lead the line as a duo alongside Danielle Carter.

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Roebuck; Stokes, Greenwood, Kennedy, Bronze; Walsh, Stanway, Weir; Hemp, White, Shaw

Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Walsh; Kullberg, Williams, Kerkdijk, Le Tissier, Koivisto; Connolly, Whelan, Zigiotti; Lee, Carter

We say: Manchester City Women 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Women

Man City are in ruthless form and no team is seemingly getting in their way on their route to conquer a top-three finish, and this weekend is likely to follow suit.

Taylor's team have scored four goals in four of their last five outings in all competitions, which suggests that they will be on fire in front of goal, while Brighton have struggled in the attacking third this season, and the hosts are expected to limit the Seagulls to very few chances, anyway.

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