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Chelsea boss Emma Hayes is expecting a tough test as her side travel to Bristol City in the Women\u2019s Super League on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Hayes\u2019 team go into the fixture on the back of a crushing 4-1 defeat by Arsenal last weekend which saw their unbeaten streak in the league come to an end and they will be looking to set the record straight after they also failed to beat Hacken in the Women\u2019s Champions League in midweek.<\/p>\n
Bristol City sit 11th in the table and have only won one of their opening nine games but Hayes is not underestimating Sunday\u2019s opponents.<\/p>\n
She told Chelsea\u2019s website: \u201cBristol are going to play five at the back and we\u2019ll have the same sort of challenges (as against Hacken).<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if we can find a blue shirt, can put the ball into the right areas in the right moments, I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe (City boss Lauren Smith) will make it difficult for us. You see their result against Arsenal, they\u2019re actually eighth in the league in terms of xG conceded. So they don\u2019t give up as many clear-cut chances as you may think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Midfielder Melanie Leupolz and defender Ashley Lawrence are expected to return to training ahead of the fixture and young Japanese forward Maika Hamano could also make an appearance.<\/p>\n
Robins boss Lauren Smith is looking forward to another tough test and thinks her side are adapting to different challenges in the league.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cAs time has gone on, the performances have lifted and we\u2019ve started to now show we can adapt to teams and that was pleasing to see at Liverpool on the weekend that we changed our shape and press and caused them problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manchester United will be looking to extend their winning run to five games in all competitions when they play Liverpool and boss Marc Skinner is pleased with what he has seen from his squad heading into the last game of 2023.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cBarring the Manchester City performance, we have been excellent, considering four or five of my players joined us in the last week of the transfer window.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have grown together, they continue to grow together and it will be an exciting second half of the season, I can assure you that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liverpool could go level on points with United with a victory on Sunday and striker Leanne Kiernan is setting her sights on competing with the teams at the top of the table.<\/p>\n
She told Liverpool\u2019s website: \u201cWe want to compete and we are not here just to sit in mid-table. We want to compete with the big teams and we know that on our day we are good enough to compete with the big teams, so we are really looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manchester City will be aiming to make it four successive league wins with victory over Everton at Walton Hall Park.<\/p>\n
But the Toffees have also enjoyed an upturn in form recently and come into the game unbeaten in three league matches themselves and could move into sixth with a win.<\/p>\n
Two out-of-form sides meet at the King Power Stadium when West Ham meet Leicester. Both teams are without a win in their last seven matches and will see the game as an opportunity to break their winless streaks.<\/p>\n
Aston Villa host Brighton at the Bescot Stadium as the sides sit 10th and ninth respectively and both teams will be looking for a result to put some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone.<\/p>\n