Leicester Leicester City

Man City Manchester City

WHEN AND WHERE

The game takes place at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton on Wednesday 12 January with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 (UK).

The match - our final Group B game - is a must-win for our hopes of progression to the knock-out stages. Fans can watch the action unfold via the FA Player.

We’ll also have coverage of the game on mancity.com and our official app, or via Twitter @ManCityWomen. Following the full-time whistle, a comprehensive match report, post-match reaction from Gareth Taylor and match highlights will be available to view on mancity.com and our official app.

A full-match replay will also be available to view with a CITY+ subscription.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased via Leicester City’s official website, priced at:

• Adults (Over-18): £7
• Under-18s: £3
• Under-8s: Free
• Senior (Over-65): £3.50

WOMEN’S TEAM HOME TICKETS | BUY ONLINE  

Gareth Taylor preview

“It’s a competition we’ve been successful in and we take them all really seriously.

“None of these competitions are easy. Even in the Conti Cup, you get the same amount of games as you would in any other competition so it doesn’t make it any easier to win and be successful in.

“We need to go to Leicester, we need to put on a performance, and try to win the game and then we know it gives us a really good opportunity to get through to the quarter-finals.”

Team news

Taylor made four changes to the side that triumphed over Brighton at the weekend, as captain Steph Houghton, Vicky Losada, Filippa Angeldahl and Jess Park replaced Alanna Kennedy, Demi Stokes, Laura Coombs and Hayley Raso. It was Houghton’s first start since September.

Khiara Keating made her debut in goal, shielded by a back line of Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, Houghton and Lucy Bronze, while Keira Walsh protected the back four.

Angeldahl and Losada occupied midfield, flanked by Lauren Hemp and Park, with Ellen White leading the line upfront.

Once again, Caz Weir and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw were unavailable for selection, while Coombs also missed out.

Esme Morgan (leg fracture), Ellie Roebuck (calf), Karen Bardsley (hamstring) and Chloe Kelly (ACL) remain long-term absentees.

CITY XI | Keating, Stanway, Greenwood, Houghton (C), Bronze, Walsh, Angeldahl, Losada, Hemp, Park, White.

SUBS | Taieb, Stokes, Beckie, Mace, Scott.

WATCH: Gareth Taylor: Quarter-final home tie extra incentive ahead of Leicester

LAST TIME OUT

A ruthless second half display ensured City began 2022 in dream fashion with a 6-0 victory at Brighton in the FA Women’s Super League.

Despite both sides creating chances in the first 45, Gareth Taylor’s side took control soon after the restart with four goals in just six minutes.

A Victoria Williams own goal plus further strikes from Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway and Laura Coombs handed City a commanding lead before the hour.

Hayley Raso got in on the act as the 75-minute mark approached, before Vicky Losada chipped in with number six soon after having come off the bench.

It was a devastating reminder of what City can produce at the sharp end of the pitch, with a memorable afternoon enhanced further by the welcome returns of Lucy Bronze and captain Steph Houghton to the first team fold after lengthy injury lay-offs.

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WATCH: FA WSL highlights: Brighton 0-6 City

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER

City have faced Leicester twice already this term: in the Women’s FA Cup (2020/21 campaign) and the FA WSL, running out comfortable victors on both occasions.

Our last meeting was a league trip to the King Power Stadium, as Gareth Taylor‘s side came from behind to triumph 4-1.

Jessica Sigsworth had given the hosts the lead but Caroline Weir and Keira Walsh struck back before half-time.

Lauren Hemp blasted home a third before Laura Coombs rounded off the scoring in the East Midlands.

WATCH: Match highlights: Leicester 1-4 City

How it stands

There are a number of different permutations which could see either City, Leicester or Charlton Athletic all progress to the last eight, depending on the result of our clash with Lydia Bedford’s side.

To book our place in the knock-out stages, we require three points against Leicester to secure top spot.

Should Gareth Taylor‘s side defeat the Foxes in our final Group B North encounter, which was due to take place on Wednesday 15 December but postponed, we will host Bristol City on either Wednesday 19 or Thursday 20 January 2022.

Should Leicester win our game or the match be drawn, the result of the penalty shoot-out would determine who will progress with the winner receiving a bonus point.

The Best Second-Placed Team is based on and in order of: highest number of average points per game, highest average goal difference per game, highest average goals scored per game.

As it stands, City and Charlton have six points, while Leicester have five.

City have an average of two points per game, a +2 goal difference average per game and an average of 3 goals scored per game.

Group C side Charlton have an average of two points per game, a +2 average goal difference per game and 2.7 average of goals scored per game.

Leicester have an average of 1.6 points per game, a -0.3 average goal difference and an average of 1.7 goals per game.

FORM GUIDE

City head into the game on the back of three successive FA WSL wins.

Leicester have endured a difficult campaign in the top flight, winning just two games all season and one in the WSL. They fell to a 1-0 defeat to Reading on Sunday.

We have won each of our five matches against Leicester City in all competitions, including 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 and 6-0 wins.