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 Liverpool face Aston Villa today in the WSL:
Liverpool FCW 1 - 2 Aston Villa WFC
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:59Match ends, Liverpool Women 1, Aston Villa Women 2.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:59Second Half ends, Liverpool Women 1, Aston Villa Women 2.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:59Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:59Foul by Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:56Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Taylor Hinds.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:56Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:56Grace Fisk (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:53Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:51Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:51Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:51Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Gabi Nunes replaces Miri Taylor.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:51Fourth official has announced 9 minutes of added time.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:51Delay in match because of an injury Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:47Own Goal by Jenna Clark, Liverpool Women. Liverpool Women 1, Aston Villa Women 2.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:46Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:44Corner, Liverpool Women. Conceded by Lucy Parker.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:44Substitution, Liverpool Women. Jenna Clark replaces Jasmine Matthews.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:38Attempt saved. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:38Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:38Delay in match because of an injury Taylor Hinds (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:35Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Paula Tomás replaces Mayumi Pacheco.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:35Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Jill Baijings replaces Rachel Daly.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:32Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:30Foul by Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:30Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:30Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:30Delay in match (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:28Goal! Liverpool Women 1, Aston Villa Women 1. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Missy Kearns with a through ball.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:26Foul by Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:26Substitution, Liverpool Women. Mia Enderby replaces Leanne Kiernan.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:26Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Kirsty Hanson replaces Lucy Staniforth.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:21Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Chasity Grant with a cross.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:21Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Rachael Laws.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:20Attempt saved. Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mayumi Pacheco with a cross.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:20Foul by Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:16Goal! Liverpool Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0. Marie-Therese Höbinger (Liverpool Women) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:15Penalty conceded by Sabrina D'Angelo (Aston Villa Women) after a foul in the penalty area.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:13Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Taylor Hinds.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:12Foul by Fuka Nagano (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:13Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:12Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:12Delay in match because of an injury Marie-Therese Höbinger (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:05Second Half begins Liverpool Women 0, Aston Villa Women 0.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:49First Half ends, Liverpool Women 0, Aston Villa Women 0.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:53Attempt blocked. Jasmine Matthews (Liverpool Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sophie Haug with a headed pass.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:48Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:48Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:48Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:46Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:44Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:42Foul by Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:45Attempt blocked. Gemma Bonner (Liverpool Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:42Attempt missed. Grace Fisk (Liverpool Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marie-Therese Höbinger with a cross following a corner.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:42Corner, Liverpool Women. Conceded by Lucy Staniforth.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:38Foul by Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:38Attempt blocked. Grace Fisk (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marie-Therese Höbinger.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:33Attempt missed. Lucy Staniforth (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:33Attempt missed. Jasmine Matthews (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from very close range is too high following a set piece situation.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:31Attempt saved. Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marie-Therese Höbinger with a cross.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:30Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:29Corner, Liverpool Women. Conceded by Noëlle Maritz.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:29Lucy Staniforth (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:27Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:27Foul by Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:26Foul by Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:26Fuka Nagano (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:21Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:18Foul by Lucy Staniforth (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:18Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:13Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:10Delay in match (Aston Villa Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
15:13Delay in match (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:09Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:07Offside, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:06Foul by Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:06Hand ball by Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women).
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:06Attempt blocked. Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ceri Holland.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
14:01First Half begins.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
13:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
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