Bristol City have a lot of work to do now.

This afternoon's game is a must-win if they're to have even the slightest chance of escaping the drop.

Things haven't gone to plan so far.

Bristol City are being put under a lot of pressure by Liverpool.

They're still trying to be patient and pass through the visitors, though, but they haven't managed to test Teagan Micah yet.

That's the second time Bristol City have been caught out at the back.

Shae Yanez has to rush off her line to thrash a clearance up the field and prevent Leanne Kiernan collecting a loose ball.

That would've been a real gift for Liverpool!

There's a loose ball at the back as Shae Yanez is closed down by Sophie Roman Haug, but Bristol City get back to clear her effort off the line.

Bristol City have all to play for and they've started well on home soil.

Jamie-Lee Napier gets behind the Liverpool defence on the left-hand side but is caught out before she can send a delivery into the box.

Bristol City get the game started.

The teams are out at Ashton Gate!

If Bristol City are going to find a way to remain in the Women's Super League, it's going to need a truly great escape.

They've managed to collect just six points from 18 fixtures since returning to the top flight and are seven points adrift of safety.

This is the first of their final four games of the season and if they're going to have any chance of closing the gap they'll need to pick up points this afternoon.

Their remaining fixtures are difficult with them still having to play Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton before the end of the season.

The Vixens could go down this weekend, too, if they lose this afternoon and West Ham beat Man City tomorrow.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City

Bristol City could be relegated to the Championship this weekend - but they can't be relegated today.

Manager Lauren Smith stressed the importance of getting three points this afternoon to keep their hopes alive.

Even if they lose this afternoon, West Ham need to beat Man City tomorrow to send the Vixens down.

"Focusing on the team ahead is always the case," Smith said in her pre-match news conference. "The players know the reality of situation, we have been in a relegation battle for the whole season.

"It is out of our hands if we don't get points on Saturday, then we are sitting on our hands as weekend rolls through. We'll try to win and push that down the road."

Liverpool

The prospect of playing Bristol City is made different by the fact they will have no option but to fight to keep their hopes of safety alive.

That also means they could have nothing to lose and be willing to take bigger risks - and Liverpool boss Matt Beard said his side must make sure it does not have "adverse effects" on them.

He said in his pre-match news conference: "Sometimes when it is like that and you've got nothing to lose, then that can have an adverse effects on us. So we need to make sure we're prepared for that.

Obviously if we win and West Ham win they're relegated so we've just got to look after ourselves. I can't think about Bristol City or what could happen, we've just got to concentrate on ourselves and make sure that we we give a good account of ourselves and get three points and keep pushing for that fourth spot."

Liverpool will be delighted with how this season has gone - but there's still more up for grabs in the final four weekends.

Getting a top-four finish wouldn't qualify them for the Champions League, but ending the season above Manchester United would be a significant achievement.

It's a definite possibility for Matt Beard's side, too, as they still have to play United at Prenton Park (on 5 May).

With league leaders Chelsea also coming up and likely preventing them grabbing all 12 remaining points, they'll need a win today to have the best chance possible.

Much of Liverpool's improvement this season can be put down to their improved defence, and much of that can be attributed to the arrival of Grace Fisk.

The 26-year-old has made a big impact since joining from West Ham and reuniting with former Irons boss Matt Beard, leaving Beard unable to understand why she hasn't found her way into an England squad.

"I can't understand why she's not in the England squad. I mean, I've not even had a phone call from from the England manager since since we've been back in the Super League.

"It's interesting because she is a fantastic one-v-one defender, her distribution's great, she's played on her weaker side all season for us.

"She's played as a full-back or in central midfield so she offers versatility. When I see a couple of injuries in that backline and Millie Bright missing I don't understand why she's not in England in at least in the squad, in the frame. She's a talented player, that's for sure."

• Bristol City have won just one of their last eight WSL games against Liverpool (D3 L4), a 2-1 home win in November 2018 under Tanya Oxtoby.
• Liverpool have scored in each of their last 14 WSL meetings with Bristol City (30 goals), winning nine of those matches (D3 L2).
• Bristol City have lost each of their last 11 home WSL games, the joint-longest such streak in WSL history (level with Yeovil Town); across their current winless run, the Vixens have conceded 31 goals and have netted just seven in response.
• ● Bristol City have conceded in each of their last 28 Women’s Super League matches (76 conceded), since a 3-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion in January 2021, which is already a competition record; Liverpool meanwhile have recorded five clean sheets in the WSL this season, their most since 2017-18 (7).

It's another fragmented weekend of the Women's Super League, this time thanks to Chelsea's participation in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Everton beat Brighton last night to kick off this weekend's games.

Bristol City take on Liverpool this afternoon in Saturday's only game, while there are three more fixtures coming up tomorrow.

Manchester City look to continue their title charge at home to West Ham, Wembley-bound Manchester United and Tottenham go head-to-head at Leigh Sports Village, and Arsenal host Leicester City.

Click here to find out how you can watch this weekend's WSL games

This might be the only Women's Super League game of the day, but it's not the only big game for English clubs.

Chelsea begin their two-legged Champions League semi-final against Barcelona this afternoon, with their game kicking off at 12:30 BST in Spain.

Click here to follow live text updates on that one.

Liverpool have had a strong season and are pushing for a top-four finish with four games remaining.

They trail Manchester United by just two points.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City, meanwhile, are seven points adrift and look destined to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Image source, Getty Images

Rachel Furness returns to Bristol City's starting line-up as the Vixens make four changes from their midweek defeat by Arsenal.

Goalkeeper Fran Bentley is out, while Ella Powell, Sarah Stratigakis and Lisa Evans are benched.

Shae Yanez, Naomi Layzell and Jasmine Bull - who makes her first start - are brought into the team.

Bristol City XI: Yanez, Aspin, Connolly, Layzell, Bull, Furness, Rodgers, Napier, Syme, Morgan, Thestrup.

Subs: Clark, Powell, Struck, Harrison, Stratigakis, Evans, Jones, Ward, Slocombe.

Image source, BBC Sport

Captain Taylor Hinds makes her first start for Liverpool since returning from a calf injury which has kept her out since January.

There are four changes from Liverpool's last game, a 4-1 loss to Manchester City on 30 March.

Teagan Micah, Missy Bo Kearns and Mia Enderby also come in, while Rachel Laws, Gemma Bonner, Emma Koivisto and Ceri Holland are benched.

Liverpool XI: Micah, Parry, Fisk, Clark, Hinds, Nagano, Kearns, Hobinger, Kiernan, Enderby, Roman Haug.

Subs: Laws, Koivisto, Lawley, Holland, Daniels, Bonner, Leath.

Image source, BBC Sport

There's only the one game in the Women's Super League today and the focus is on matters at Ashton Gate as Bristol City look to find a way to keep their hopes of top-flight safety alive.

The Vixens are up against a difficult Liverpool side who are looking to break up the dominance of the traditional top four.

Kick-off is at 12:30 BST. Let's begin by seeing how the teams line up for this one.

Image source, Getty Images