Preview – Foxes Face Man City In League Cup
The Foxes started the New Year in excellent fashion with a Continental Tyres League Cup win against Sunderland, before returning to Barclays Women's Super League for the first time in six weeks in a 3-0 outing against Brighton & Hove Albion at King Power Stadium.
Ahead of their final Group B match of the league cup with Manchester City, here is an extensive look at both sides...
The Foxes camp
Leicester have picked up six points from three games in the cup, winning 3-0 at Blackburn Rovers before beating Sunderland 5-0 at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground last Wednesday. The goals were shared in the North East as Missy Goodwin, Sam Tierney, Ava Baker and Molly Pike all found the net.
On Sunday afternoon, the winning streak continued for the Foxes, who recorded their first win of the 2022/23 WSL campaign as they beat Brighton on Filbert Way. Tierney made it two in a week, along with Aileen Whelan and Monique Robinson, who confirmed the positive 3-0 scoreline.
New signing Janina Leitzig made her debut in goal against the Seagulls and captured the immediate attention of the Leicester fanbase, as a strong performance from the German ensured a first clean sheet of the league season.
The talking points
Previewing the Man City fixture, Willie Kirk told LCFC TV: “I’ve been strong on remaining humble, as we’ve not actually achieved anything yet. There’s still a lot to do, and the players understand that. It’s two important wins but it’s only two wins, and nothing has changed too much in the short-term.
“We’ll put out a team capable of winning the game, and I think we’ve proved in the last few games that the youngsters are capable of the challenge. So, if there are youngsters playing, it’s because we think they are good enough.
“Any win against Manchester City puts us through to the quarter-finals, and that’s our aim, so we’ll put out a team to try and win the game."
Meanwhile, Monique Robinson stated: "I think it's going to be a tough test, but we've done well by beating Sunderland, so it's a game that means something. If we win, we're going through to the quarter-finals. We've set ourselves up so it's not a meaningless game."
The opposition
Wednesday's opponents will prove a difficult task, as Man City arrive to Burton off the back of 11 games undefeated. It's a run which started with a 4-0 win against Leicester back in October.
More recently, they picked up a point in a 1-1 draw against rivals Manchester United, before defeating West Ham United at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Khadija Shaw scoring the only goal of the game.
The Foxes will have to be on the top of their game if they are to beat a Man City side, yet to concede a goal in the tournament. With three wins against the rest of the group, preventing the Citizens from completing the set, will place Leicester in the knock-out stages.
In the dugout
Gareth Taylor resides in the Manchester dugout having been made head coach in May 2020, and has one two domestic trophies in his time as manager.
Making over 500 appearances in his playing days, the 49-year-old won the Women's FA Cup in his debut season, before the former striker also claimed the league cup in 2022.
Last time out
Leicester have faced Man City once this season, when they travelled to Academy Stadium on 16 October. The Foxes were on the reverse of a 4-0 scoreline, as Khadija Shaw netted twice, along with Lauren Hemp and Yui Hasegawa.
Last season's scores were no different, as the team from Filbert Way lost out to the Citizens on three occasions; twice in the league and once in the league cup.
The Foxes have found the net on one occasion against this week's opponents, when Jess Sigsworth netted after only 58 seconds, confirming Leicester's quickest ever goal on 7 November, 2021 - a record that still stands to this day.
Ticket and coverage details
Tickets can be purchased on matchday at Pirelli Stadium, an hour before kick-off.