Merseyside derby to kick off Womens Super League

The Women's Super League will kick off with a Merseyside derby as Liverpool travel to Everton.

The new winter season, starting on 23-24 September, sees Everton in WSL 1 after their successful bid to replace the now defunct Notts County Ladies.

Elsewhere, Manchester City, the 2016 champions, travel to Yeovil Town on the opening weekend, while Reading host Sunderland. Chelsea, who won 2017's one-off WSL 1 Spring Series title, host Bristol City.

Both Yeovil and Bristol City were promoted from WSL 2 at the end of 2016 - the final summer campaign before the top two tiers of the women's game in England switched to a winter calendar - and featured in the WSL 1 Spring Series between April and June.

The Spring Series was established as a transitional competition to bridge the 10-month gap created by the shift between summer and winter seasons.

Opening fixtures

WSL 1

• Arsenal v Birmingham City
• Chelsea v Bristol City
• Everton v Liverpool
• Reading v Sunderland
• Yeovil v Manchester City

WSL 2

• Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion
• Durham v Tottenham
• London Bees v Doncaster Rovers Belles
• Millwall Lionesses v Watford
• Oxford United v Sheffield FC

JC