It’s the end of an era for Manchester City. Club legend Steph Houghton has announced that she will retire from professional football at the end of the season. The 35-year-old, who has also played for Sunderland, Leeds and Arsenal, announced the news on social media earlier this week.
In a career that has spanned 20 years she has won 16 domestic trophies and been capped 121 times by England.
Manchester City have made just one change from last weekend’s derby day victory over Manchester United, with Laia Aleixandri stepping back into defence and replacing Leila Ouahabi.
As for Liverpool, two academy stars have been named in the matchday squad for the first time in Maddy Duffy and Mia Leath.
Liverpool starting XI: Rachael Laws; Grace Fisk, Gemma Bonner, Jenna Clark; Emma Koivisto, Lucy Parry, Ceri Holland (C), Fuka Nagano, Marie Höbinger; Sophie Roman Haug, Leanne Kiernan. Substitutes: Teagan Micah, Missy Bo Kearns, Melissa Lawley, Taylor Hinds, Mia Enderby, Maddy Duffy, Mia Leath.
⭐ #LIVMCI TEAM NEWS ⭐
— Liverpool FC Women (@LiverpoolFCW) March 30, 2024
This is how we line up to face Manchester City 🔴 pic.twitter.com/njeWCaxUJS
Manchester City starting XI: Khiara Keating; Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood (C), Alanna Kennedy, Kerstin Casparij; Laura Coombs, Yui Hasegawa, Jess Park; Mary Fowler, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp. Substitutes: Sandy MacIver, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton, Chloe Kelly, Filippa Angeldahl, Esme Morgan, Poppy Pritchard, Laura Blindkilde, Ruby Mace.
Today's squad! 🩵
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 30, 2024
XI | Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Coombs, Fowler, Hemp, Park, Casparij, Shaw, Hasegawa, Kennedy
SUBS | MacIver, Stokes, Houghton, Kelly, Angeldahl, Morgan, Pritchard, Blindkilde, Mace#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/cvK7onGBcP
Hello, good afternoon and welcome to coverage of today’s WSL clash between Liverpool and Manchester City. Matt Beard’s side moved above Manchester United in the league table last weekend for the first time this season. Now, they hope to close the eight-point gap on third-placed Arsenal. As for the visitors, they will have the chance to top the table this afternoon.
With Chelsea in Continental Cup final action tomorrow, Gareth Taylor’s side can go three points clear of the reigning champions. However, Liverpool have been known to cause an upset in this league - could they do it again today?
Kick-off is at 12:30pm GMT - don’t miss it!