West Ham United Women and Liverpool Women will both be looking to claim their first win of the season when they face off in Sunday's Women's Super League contest.
The Hammers fell to a heavy defeat in their WSL opener against Manchester United, while the Reds had to settle for a point in their meeting with Leicester City.
Match preview
Last season, West Ham finished nine points clear of the sole relegation spot despite the fact that they failed to win any of their final nine WSL matches.
As a result of that poor form, the Hammers would have been desperate to start the new campaign on the front foot, but those hopes were dashed by a heavy defeat in their WSL opener against Man United.
Geyse, Leah Galton and Grace Clinton all got on the scoresheet to condemn the Hammers to a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford, representing West Ham's fifth defeat in their previous five WSL away matches.
Rehanne Skinner's side will hope that a return to home surroundings can lead to better fortunes, especially as they avoided defeat in four of their final five home matches of the 2023-24 WSL season.
Having failed to win their last four WSL games against Liverpool, the Hammers will enter Sunday's contest with aspirations of claiming their first top-flight away win over the Reds since running out 4-2 winners in February 2020.
In contrast to their hosts, Liverpool experienced a successful 2023-24 campaign, collecting 41 points from 22 matches to finish in fourth spot and six points better off than rivals Man United.
After finishing last term with four consecutive league wins, the Reds would have been keen to extend their winning run in their WSL opener against Leicester.
However, they ultimately had to be content with a share of the spoils after Sophie Roman Haug saw her first-half opener cancelled out by Jutta Rantala in the second period.
Following a draw in their first game at St Helens' Totally Wicked Stadium, Liverpool will now head on their travels for Sunday's WSL fixture, where they will attempt to continue the form that saw them win four of their final five away league games of last season.
However, claiming all three points may be easier said than done because the Reds have not won an away league game against West Ham since October 2018 when their manager Matt Beard was in the opposing dugout.
Team News
The Hammers are expected to be without the services of defender Kirsty Smith and midfielder Jessica Ziu.
Kristie Mewis is in contention to start against Liverpool after she featured as a half-time substitute against Man United.
Shelina Zadorsky and Seraina Piubel played the final half-hour at Old Trafford and may be considered for starting spots.
As for the Reds, they are without the injured duo of Teagan Micah and Faye Kirby, while Grace Fisk is a doubt after she missed the opener against Leicester.
If there are no fresh injury issues, Beard could opt for consistency and name an unchanged lineup for Sunday's away trip.
Buoyed by a goal on matchday one, Roman Haug will continue to offer one of Liverpool's main attacking threats when she resumes her fledgeling forward partnership with summer signing Olivia Smith.
West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Szemik; Tysiak, Saez, Cooke; Denton, Gorry, Mewis, Zadorsky; Piubel, Asseyi; Ueki
Liverpool Women possible starting lineup:
Laws; Clark, Bonner, Evans; Parry, Hobinger, Nagano, Holland, Hinds; Smith, Haug
We say: West Ham United Women 1-1 Liverpool Women
Liverpool have failed to win their last three away league matches against West Ham, while the Hammers have gone four consecutive league meetings without a win over the Reds.
With that in mind, we believe that the two sides could play out a draw in Sunday's contest - something that West Ham did in three of their final four home games of last season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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