Ruesha Littlejohn returns, Carla Ward set to ring changes: Aston Villa Women predicted XI v Liverpool
Carla Ward is expected to make three changes to her Aston Villa Women lineup for the clash against Liverpool at Villa Park on Sunday (21 May).
The Villans arrive into the clash on the back of their 5-0 thumping against Reading, in which Rachel Daly and Alisha Lehmann both netted impressive braces.
With Aston Villa all but confirmed to finish 5th in the WSL with just two games of the season remaining, Ward will be tempted to make a few alterations to her starting lineup to face the 7th-placed Reds.
In goal, Hannah Hampton will be given the nod, despite potentially being tempted to give Anna Leat a runout. The England shot-stopper will look to build upon her fourth clean sheet of the season.
Sarah Mayling and Maz Pacheco have been standout players for Aston Villa this term, and with a distinct lack of alternative options at full-back, these two will look to continue in a similar vein. Both players will look to get forward when possible and contribute to attacks in the final third.
At centre-back, Dan Turner is set to be rejoined by Rachel Corsie in the heart of the Villa defence. The experienced Scottish international was pictured back in training earlier this week and, if deemed fit enough to start, is likely to be brought back into the starting lineup in place of Arsenal loanee Anna Patten.
After missing out on the win against the Royals, Jordan Nobbs is expected to come back into the heart of midfield, with Laura Blindkilde Brown looking the most likely to drop to the bench in her stead. The England international will look to add to her four goals since joining from Arsenal in the January transfer window.
Kenza Dali, who has now notched up 19 combined goals and assists this season, will continue her role at the tip of Villa’s midfield three, while Lucy Staniforth is set to make way for Ruesha Littlejohn.
The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international has been plagued with injuries this season, but after shining in the recent 3-2 defeat to Manchester United and coming off the bench last week, she is ready for yet another start in the middle of the park.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, the saying goes, and this couldn’t be any more applicable to Villa’s current front three of Kirsty Hanson, Daly and Lehmann.
England Euro 2022 winner Daly is currently on course to win the WSL Golden Boot after drawing two clear of Khadija Shaw with 20 goals from just 20 games this term, so remains undroppable at the heart of Villa’s attack.
Meanwhile, Lehmann will look to add to her five goals and five assists from this season, and Hanson will look to add a late flurry of goal contributions to what has been an extremely fruitful season-long loan from Manchester United.
In other Aston Villa Women news, the club have been dealt a bitter blow after a highly-rated teenager joined Manchester United.