West Ham vs London City Lionesses – News and Probable Lineups

London City Lionesses will travel to Chigwell Construction Stadium for a matchup in the Women’s Super League against West Ham United this Sunday.

The Hammers currently find themselves in 11th place in the WSL standings, while their rivals stand eight points ahead in seventh position.

Match overview

West Ham sits just three points above the relegation playoff zone, having secured three wins, three draws, and suffered 12 losses in their 18 league matches.

The Hammers have faced difficulties both offensively and defensively, as evidenced by their league-worst defensive record, having conceded 40 times and being the second-lowest scorers in the division with only 15 goals.

They are averaging a mere 0.83 goals per game across their 18 WSL matches, a significant decline from last season’s average of 1.64 goals.

Recent results have highlighted these issues, with a heavy 5-0 loss to Arsenal last Saturday marking their fourth match in a row without a win, and three league matches consecutively without scoring.

For this Sunday, West Ham will at least take comfort in having home advantage, having garnered nine of their 12 points from matches at home.

Moreover, they hold optimism after securing their first clean sheet of the season at home against Manchester United in their latest game.

London City is pleased to be positioned in seventh place during their inaugural WSL season, despite aspirations for higher placements following a proactive recruitment effort over the past two transfer windows.

With Everton in sixth on goal difference, Eder Maestre’s team is aiming to secure a top-half finish with four matches remaining.

Even though they haven’t won in four league outings, London City enters the upcoming fixture feeling positive, having held reigning champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw last weekend.

Substitute Isobel Goodwin equalized in the 82nd minute after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had opened the scoring, preventing Chelsea from achieving their fourth consecutive league win.

After three consecutive home fixtures, Eder Maestre’s squad will now travel with the hopes of attaining their fourth away league victory of the season.

A win on Sunday would allow the visitors to achieve a league double over the Hammers, following their earlier 1-0 victory in October.

Team News

West Ham’s Eva Nystrom is expected to be available for selection, having recovered from the issue that resulted in her substitution during the match against Arsenal.

However, Rita Guarino will not have striker Vivianne Asseyi available, as she misses another game due to injury.

Aussie midfielder Katrina Gorry and Japanese forward Riko Ueki may be included after returning from the Asian Cup.

For the visitors, forward Nikita Parris is set to miss the match due to a one-game suspension following her fifth yellow card in the WSL last weekend.

Goodwin is in line to start in Parris’s place, while Lucia Corrales is also vying for a return after her second-half appearance against Chelsea.

Saki Kumagai may be added to the starting line-up after returning from the Asian Cup in Australia, where she helped Japan clinch the title for the third time.

West Ham United Women probable starting XI:

Szemik; Endo, Hansen, Cascarino; Walker, Siren, Gorry, Hanshaw; Martinez, Tennebo, Ueki

London City Lionesses W probable starting XI:

Lete; Fernandez, Linari, Sangare, Pattinson; Kumagai, Geyoro; Godfrey, Asllani, Corrales; Goodwin

London City has secured two wins in their last three competitive away matches, and we anticipate they will find success on the road against a West Ham side that has lost three of their last four encounters.