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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Megan Armitage

WSL strugglers Leicester handed "near perfect" warning ahead of tough Chelsea challenge

Leicester City manager Willie Kirk admitted his team will have to be 'near perfect' if they want to rival a threatening Chelsea this weekend.

Bottom of the table welcomes top as the Foxes host Emma Hayes' side at the King Power Stadium as the Barclays Women's Super League returns. The two teams last locked horns in March this year as Chelsea won 9-0 in a humbling defeat for the home side.

And Kirk is well aware of the oncoming challenge as the Blues look to extend their lead at the top of the table. "The challenge they pose is one of world-class level," he said. We need to cause Chelsea some stress, we know they're going to cause us some and we need to get our defensive organisation right.

"If you're going to take points against them you need to have every element of your game perfect. You have to be near perfect to take points off Chelsea and that's what we aim to be. It's a challenge for every club in the league to shut them out because they have so many different ways of scoring.

"If they can't go through you, they go over you, if they can't play over you they go around you and they always find away and that's why they're the best team in the country."

Leicester fell to a late loss against West Ham United last time out, with three players picking up injuries in an already-diminished squad. The Foxes have played eight, lost eight so far this season with a last-gasp 2-1 loss to Reading the closest they have come to a positive result.

Willie Kirk has delivered a warning to his players (Getty Images)

But Kirk, who stepped in as manager just four weeks ago, is confident that his team will finally get off the mark in the coming weeks. He said: "We just need to get those points on the board to get something tangible and make sure they get what they deserve from their performances.

"There's a realisation that we're in a relegation fight and the pressure comes every day. We're really struggling in terms of personnel, but I've always been a big believer that the absence of some players creates opportunities for others and it's now up to those players to take those opportunities."

Leicester sit four points shy of second-bottom Reading, who welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Sunday, an opportunity to open up more daylight to the foot of the table.

Manchester United face Aston Villa in the first game of the weekend on Saturday lunchtime and the hosts need a win to keep the pressure on second-place Arsenal alive, both teams sitting on 18 points.

Jonas Eidevall's side currently lie second on the strength of goal difference and will hope to consolidate that spot against Everton in the 2pm kick-off.

The weekend of action concludes at 2pm on Sunday as Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion clash at the Academy Stadium whilst Liverpool welcome West Ham at the same time.

To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship coverage visit: https://faplayer.thefa.com/home/all

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