Gareth Taylor is preparing Manchester City for "crunch time" as the Women's Super League title race hots up.

City head to Brighton on Sunday looking to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea, who moved three points clear on Friday night with a 3-1 victory over third-placed Arsenal.

Taylor, 51, said: "We've been on this really good run in the league. We're in a good position with seven games left and they're all big.

"It's crunch time and we know the nature of this league that it always goes to the death — I don't see this season being any different."

Taylor's team had been on a 12-match winning streak in all competitions before suffering defeats to Chelsea in the Conti Cup and Tottenham in the FA Cup.

But those results are unlikely to make things any easier for struggling Brighton following last week's 4-0 home FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Interim boss Mikey Harris, whose side are ninth in the table, said: "I think it's a fantastic game for us all to be involved in, a great challenge and we'll approach it in that way.”

Seagulls skipper Vicky Losada added: "It was a tough one to take last Saturday. We watched the game again and identified the things that didn't go right, we discussed the situations of the game.

"We are in a process, we're trying to play a unique style that's not easy. But we have to respond.

"We have to take the lessons from the United game into Sunday.

"I think we're having really good moments in the game but it's about being more consistent and managing some moments.

"We know City very well and we took all points last time there, so I know they're going to come with plenty of energy on Sunday."