The new Women's Super League marks the start of a new era for reigning champions Chelsea, with long-serving boss Emma Hayes having departed in summer to start a new adventure with the USA Women's team.
Last year they just about did enough to claim the title on goal difference ahead of Manchester City, while Arsenal will again hope to make it a three-horse race for the WSL title. Meanwhile Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham will hope to progress after further rebuilding this summer.
Crystal Palace were promoted to replace Bristol City in the top flight, while on a wider note, the league is now under the management and operation of a new organisation set up to lead women's football towards further growth and progression, with Nikki Doucet overseeing both the WSL and Championship in a new phase for the game.
Follow the live action below as Aston Villa face Everton today in the WSL:
Aston Villa WFC 0 - 2 Everton WFC
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:57Match ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Everton Women 2.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:56Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Everton Women 2.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:56Attempt saved. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Missy Kearns.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:55Attempt missed. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:55Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Maren Mjelde.
Aston Villa vs Everton
16:00Attempt blocked. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:53Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Courtney Brosnan.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:53Attempt saved. Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:52Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:50Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:50Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:50Substitution, Everton Women. Veatriki Sarri replaces Kelly Gago.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:47Foul by Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:50Kelly Gago (Everton Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:47Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:50Attempt blocked. Karen Holmgaard (Everton Women) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Sara Holmgaard with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:47Attempt blocked. Martina Fernández (Everton Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:43Corner, Everton Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:40Substitution, Everton Women. Melissa Lawley replaces Toni Payne.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:40Substitution, Everton Women. Karoline Olesen replaces Heather Payne.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:40Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Gabi Nunes replaces Miri Taylor.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:40Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Kirsty Hanson replaces Chasity Grant.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:38Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:38Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Martina Fernández.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:36Attempt blocked. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:32Attempt missed. Honoka Hayashi (Everton Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:28Attempt missed. Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:27Attempt missed. Kelly Gago (Everton Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:26Attempt saved. Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:25Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Missy Kearns replaces Jordan Nobbs.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:25Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Ebony Salmon replaces Katie Robinson.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:25Substitution, Everton Women. Justine Vanhaevermaet replaces Hayley Ladd.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:25Substitution, Everton Women. Karen Holmgaard replaces Katja Snoeijs.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:20Attempt missed. Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:19Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:18Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Everton Women 2. Honoka Hayashi (Everton Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the high centre of the goal.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:17Offside, Everton Women. Toni Payne is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:15Attempt saved. Hayley Ladd (Everton Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:13Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:13Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:13Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Katelin Talbert replaces Sabrina D'Angelo because of an injury.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:13Delay in match because of an injury Sabrina D'Angelo (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:08Katie Robinson (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:08Foul by Katie Robinson (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:05Foul by Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:05Kelly Gago (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
15:04Second Half begins Aston Villa Women 0, Everton Women 1.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:49First Half ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Everton Women 1.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:47Offside, Everton Women. Toni Payne is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:47Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:40Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:38Delay in match because of an injury Courtney Brosnan (Everton Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:37Attempt saved. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:37Attempt saved. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Chasity Grant.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:33Offside, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:32Attempt missed. Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:27Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:27Hayley Ladd (Everton Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:27Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:25Offside, Aston Villa Women. Jordan Nobbs is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:25Attempt saved. Katie Robinson (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Noëlle Maritz.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:23Foul by Kelly Gago (Everton Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:23Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:23Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Martina Fernández.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:22Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:20Offside, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:19Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:17Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Everton Women 1. Maren Mjelde (Everton Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:19Attempt blocked. Sara Holmgaard (Everton Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:16Corner, Everton Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:11Attempt missed. Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Miri Taylor following a set piece situation.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:10Katie Robinson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:09Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:05Hayley Ladd (Everton Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:05Katja Snoeijs (Everton Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Aston Villa vs Everton
14:01First Half begins.
Aston Villa vs Everton
13:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Aston Villa vs Everton
12:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
Whether it's Premier League, Champions League, a European Championship or the World Cup we will keep you up to date with everything you need to know.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here.
