Kirk backs Leicester to move out of the WSL’s relegation zone and reckons table looks ‘more healthy’ for Foxes

WILLIE KIRK would rather see Leicester have a dull mid-table end to their season instead of the relegation fight facing his players.

And the Foxes gaffer is backing his side to move off bottom spot once again when they face Liverpool at home this lunchtime. 

GettyA win against Liverpool for Willie Kirk’s Leicester would see them leapfrog Brighton and Reading ahead of their rivals’ games against Tottenham and Manchester City[/caption]

GettyLeicester midfield starlet Monique Robinson signed her first professional contract with the Foxes ahead of today’s game[/caption]

GettyLeicester picked up three points against Reading at the King Power last time out[/caption]

Leicester are in the midst of a four-way fight for WSL survival with Brighton, Tottenham and Reading also battling to maintain their top-flight status. 

Just three points separate the bottom-placed Foxes from Tottenham with Kirk’s side lying 12th and Spurs sat four places above them.

The Leicester City chief, 44, said: “I’d rather have a boring end of the season, and be sat in seventh or eighth,

“But the biggest motivator has been that everybody wrote us off and said Leicester was down. 

“So that’s been a motivator internally, and now the table is looking more healthy.”

 Leicester’s only WSL clash with the Reds saw them snatch a 1-0 win on the road in  February – their second victory in the top tier this term. 

But Kirk is confident his players can beat the drop with the race to avoid relegation hotting up with games against Brighton and West Ham coming up in May. 

Kirk, whose side beat Reading last time out before the international  break, added: “We came off the bottom once. 

“I did say there was a chance we could be back down there, with so many games until we play again. 

“But the fact we’ve done it once already will help us to do it again.

“We were very aware of the results around us. 

“We’d like the players not to focus on that too much but we’re not silly, we watch the games.

“It’s in our hands, and if we hit our target we know we’ll be safe.”

The Foxes will be without the services of Jess Sigsworth. 

The forward, 28, who returned to fitness following knee ligament damage, is currently sidelined by injury. 

Kirk added: “It’s really frustrating for her. We hoped she would build on the Reading performance but it wasn’t to be.”

Meanwhile Liverpool have suffered an injury blow with Melissa Lawley ruled out for the rest of this season. 

GettyMatt Beard says Liverpool winger Melissa Lawley could be out of action for six months due to a hip issue[/caption]

It is thought the winger, 29, may have to undergo surgery on her hip.  

Reds Boss Matt Beard, 45, said:  “Unfortunately, Mel is going to be out with a hip problem and she is probably going to need an operation.

“Without going into the ins and outs, she is probably going to be out for six months all in all, post-operation.”