Leicester Face The Citizens In The WSL – All You Need To Know
The 2pm kick-off at Academy Stadium is the Foxes’ penultimate away match of their debut WSL campaign as they aim to secure a second season of top-flight football.
Before this weekend’s fixture gets underway, here’s a look at the key information to know about Leicester’s latest encounter with the Citizens…
The Foxes camp
The recent international break saw seven Foxes in action for their countries, including Paige Bailey-Gayle helping Jamaica to seal a spot in the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship and Missy Goodwin and Freya Gregory assisting England Under-19s in qualifying for this summer’s UEFA Women's Under-19 Championships.
Three weeks on from defeat to Arsenal at King Power Stadium, the side managed by Lydia Bedford will be looking for a more positive result following four straight losses in the league.
Currently positioned 11th in the table, seven points ahead of Birmingham City, in the relegation zone, Reading (H) and Tottenham Hotspur (A) await in the final weeks of the season. There is only one relegation berth in the WSL.
The opposition
Manchester City’s slow start to the league season is well and truly behind them as they continue to push for a top-three finish and a spot in next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League. Currently sitting fourth, three points behind Manchester United, the Citizens have a game in hand on their city rivals and are in scintillating form.
Gareth Taylor’s outfit have triumphed in their last five WSL games without conceding a single goal, beating top-three contenders Man Utd and Tottenham Hotspur on a winning run that extends to nine matches across all competitions.
The Manchester-based side defeated Chelsea 3-1 in March to lift the Continental Tyres League Cup and are now into another final against the Blues after beating West Ham United 4-1 in the semi-final of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup last weekend.
With final WSL fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion, Birmingham City and Reading to come before that showpiece event at Wembley Stadium, there is plenty to play for in the closing weeks of the season.
In the dugout
Taking over from Nick Cushing in May 2020, manager Gareth Taylor won his first trophy as manager six months later, lifting the FA Cup after a 3-1 victory over Everton in the final at Wembley Stadium. The Citizens narrowly missed out on the WSL title last season, though another cup success came in March 2022, beating Chelsea in the League Cup Final.
Representing the likes of Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Wrexham and Manchester City during his playing days, the former Wales international racked up 575 appearances and 142 goals throughout his domestic career. Taylor began coaching at Man City in 2011 and he became academy manager five year later.
Ones to watch
A shining light for club and country this season, England winger Lauren Hemp continues to produce at the top end of the pitch, contributing six goals and three assists in 18 WSL games – no Man City player has more. The 21-year-old has been named PFA Young Player of the Year in three of the last four years.
Georgia Stanway, another of the Lionesses’ most promising players, also has six WSL goals to her name. Capped 31 times by England at senior level, the versatile midfielder won the 2019 PFA Young Player of the Year Award. Now 23, the talented youngster still has her peak years ahead.
Scotland international midfielder Caroline Weir, who brought up a century of appearances for her club earlier this campaign, has scored some spectacular goals for Man City since arriving at the club from Liverpool in 2018, including a FIFA Puskas Award nomination for her strike against Manchester United in 2020.
Last time out
The previous three encounters between the teams this season have all gone the way of Manchester City. The first came in a rearranged Vitality Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Final at Academy Stadium which ended 6-0 despite being goalless at half-time. Khadija Shaw scored a hat-trick, while Vicky Losada, Alex Greenwood and Filippa Angeldahl also netted.
Foxes forward Jess Sigsworth opened the scoring inside the first minute of the pair’s maiden WSL clash in November 2021, before the Citizens roared back to claim victory. Caroline Weir, Keira Walsh, Lauren Hemp and Laura Coombs all netted in the 4-1 triumph at King Power Stadium.
Two months later, the sides renewed battle in the Continental Tyres League Cup group stage, this time at Pirelli Stadium. A youthful Leicester side, which included four debutants, lost 5-0 to the eventual competition winners, with goals from Ellen White, Georgia Stanway and Losada alongside Hemp’s brace.
Ticket and travel news
Match tickets for the encounter at Academy Stadium must be purchased directly from the home team, priced between £8 and £10 for adults, £5 for over-65s and 16s-21s and £4 for under-16s. Click HERE to buy.
Fox Travel is also available to purchase HERE, priced at £18 per person. Coaches will depart from King Power Stadium at 9:30am on Sunday.