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 Manchester United today in the WSL:
Aston Villa WFC 0 - 4 Manchester United WFC
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:25Match ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 4.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:25Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 4.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:24Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hinata Miyazawa.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:19Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:19Attempt missed. Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lucy Staniforth following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:17Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Hinata Miyazawa.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:17Attempt saved. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lucy Staniforth.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:17Substitution, Manchester United Women. Aoife Mannion replaces Jayde Riviere.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:15Melvine Malard (Manchester United Women) is shown the yellow card.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:14Offside, Manchester United Women. Melvine Malard is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:13Millie Turner (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:13Foul by Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:12Leah Galton (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:11Attempt missed. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:10Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Katie Robinson replaces Chasity Grant.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:09Attempt missed. Rachel Williams (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the left. Assisted by Ella Toone with a cross following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:09Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Lucy Staniforth.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:08Attempt saved. Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lucy Staniforth with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:08Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Maya Le Tissier.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:08Attempt saved. Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Grace Clinton.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:08Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Grace Clinton.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:07Foul by Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:05Foul by Millie Turner (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:05Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Lydia Sallaway replaces Paula Tomás.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:04Offside, Manchester United Women. Elisabeth Terland is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:04Attempt saved. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:04Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lucy Staniforth following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:02Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Millie Turner.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:02Attempt blocked. Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:01Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Leah Galton.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:01Offside, Manchester United Women. Elisabeth Terland is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:01Rachel Williams (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:01Offside, Aston Villa Women. Paula Tomás is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
18:01Foul by Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:58Foul by Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:58Substitution, Manchester United Women. Rachel Williams replaces Anna Sandberg because of an injury.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:58Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:55Delay in match because of an injury Anna Sandberg (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:54Jayde Riviere (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:53Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 4. Leah Galton (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Melvine Malard.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:51Foul by Melvine Malard (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:49Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:49Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Lucy Staniforth replaces Jill Baijings.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:49Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Mayumi Pacheco replaces Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:49Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Ebony Salmon replaces Gabi Nunes.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:47Attempt missed. Anna Sandberg (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:47Attempt blocked. Anna Sandberg (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:47Attempt saved. Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Leah Galton with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:47Offside, Aston Villa Women. Jill Baijings is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:47Substitution, Manchester United Women. Melvine Malard replaces Celin Bizet Ildhusøy because of an injury.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:43Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:38Delay in match because of an injury Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:38Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:38Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:36Foul by Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:36Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:33Second Half begins Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 3.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:33Substitution, Manchester United Women. Anna Sandberg replaces Gabrielle George.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:17First Half ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 3.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:18Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women) hits the bar with a header from very close range. Assisted by Lucy Parker with a headed pass following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:17Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Jayde Riviere.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:17Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:15Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 3. Grace Clinton (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:15Attempt saved. Jayde Riviere (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Celin Bizet Ildhusøy.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:15Foul by Leah Galton (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:15Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Missy Kearns.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:11Attempt missed. Leah Galton (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Maya Le Tissier.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:08Offside, Manchester United Women. Jayde Riviere is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:07Gabrielle George (Manchester United Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:06Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:06Foul by Gabrielle George (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:06Attempt missed. Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:05Foul by Millie Turner (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
17:02Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 2. Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jayde Riviere with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:58Jayde Riviere (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:54Offside, Manchester United Women. Leah Galton is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:53Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Manchester United Women 1. Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Celin Bizet Ildhusøy.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:51Offside, Aston Villa Women. Gabi Nunes is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:51Attempt blocked. Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:49Foul by Millie Turner (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:49Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:51Attempt missed. Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Paula Tomás with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:47Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:47Foul by Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:44Foul by Grace Clinton (Manchester United Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:44Foul by Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:44Attempt saved. Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Maya Le Tissier.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:44Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:44Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gabrielle George with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:44Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Rachel Daly.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:44Attempt blocked. Grace Clinton (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ella Toone.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:41Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Chasity Grant.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:40Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Lucy Parker.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:40Jayde Riviere (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:39Attempt missed. Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Leah Galton with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:36Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Chasity Grant.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:34Foul by Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:31First Half begins.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
16:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
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