Lucia Kendall returns to our Aston Villa Women predicted XI against Crystal Palace, with Lily Murphy keeping her place after scoring in Wednesday’s cup victory.
Brian Sørensen faces his first Women’s Super League match as interim head coach following the 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
Our selection combines players who started that game with several who came off the bench. This is our predicted team, subject to availability, rather than a confirmed line-up.
Aston Villa Women predicted XI against Crystal Palace
Our predicted formation: 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper: Akane Okuma.
Defenders: Lynn Wilms, Anna Patten, Mathilde Harviken, Noëlle Maritz.
Central midfield: Miri Taylor, Justine Kielland.
Attacking midfield: Chasity Grant, Lucia Kendall, Lily Murphy.
Striker: Amalie Vangsgaard.
Kendall earns central role in our selection
Kendall’s contribution against Newcastle makes her the strongest attacking selection case.
The official Newcastle match centre records her introduction after 61 minutes and two late goals.
We would use her behind Vangsgaard, with Taylor and Kielland providing the midfield base. That gives Kendall licence to support the striker while retaining two players behind the attacking line.
Her decisive Newcastle double strengthens the argument for that responsibility, although it does not establish how Sørensen will organise his midfield.
Murphy keeps her place as senior options return
Murphy opened the scoring on Wednesday and gets our nod on the left. Grant returns on the opposite flank, with Vangsgaard replacing Georgia Mullett up front.
That would leave Maya Hijikata and Mullett as alternative attacking options if selected in the squad.
At the back, we predict Wilms and Maritz alongside Patten and Harviken. All four started Villa’s previous league fixture at Tottenham.
Okuma also returns in our prediction after Emily Ramsey started the cup tie. The goalkeeper decision remains one of Sørensen’s calls rather than a confirmed league-and-cup rotation policy.
Villa need league response against Palace
Wednesday’s victory gives Sørensen a positive starting point, but Villa are still searching for their first WSL win this season.
Our XI rewards Murphy’s goal and Kendall’s impact while restoring several players who began the Newcastle game on the bench.
The match kicks off at 2pm BST at Villa Park. Our Villa Women vs Crystal Palace viewing guide has the broadcast and matchday details.
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