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 Liverpool today in the WSL:
Aston Villa WFC 1 - 2 Liverpool WFC
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:36Match ends, Aston Villa Women 1, Liverpool Women 2.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:33Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 1, Liverpool Women 2.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:33Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:30Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:28Rachael Laws (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:30Attempt missed. Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:28Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Rachael Laws.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:28Attempt saved. Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Kenza Dali.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:28Corner, Liverpool Women. Conceded by Rachel Daly.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:25Foul by Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:25Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:25Foul by Kenza Dali (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:24Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:28Attempt saved. Lucy Parry (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:24Lucy Parry (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:23Offside, Aston Villa Women. Gabi Nunes is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:21Foul by Hannah Silcock (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:23Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:30Attempt missed. Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:20Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Gemma Evans.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:20Attempt blocked. Marie-Therese Höbinger (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ceri Holland.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:18Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:18Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Kenza Dali replaces Kirsty Hanson.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:41Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:16Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Chasity Grant replaces Adriana Leon.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:16Delay in match (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:16Substitution, Liverpool Women. Hannah Silcock replaces Jasmine Matthews.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:16Substitution, Liverpool Women. Mia Enderby replaces Olivia Smith.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:41Delay in match (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:13Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Jasmine Matthews.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:12Attempt saved. Marie-Therese Höbinger (Liverpool Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:12Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:09Attempt saved. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:05Substitution, Liverpool Women. Cornelia Kapocs replaces Leanne Kiernan.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:05Substitution, Liverpool Women. Lucy Parry replaces Grace Fisk.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:05Attempt missed. Olivia Smith (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:02Jenna Clark (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:02Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:01Delay in match because of an injury Jenna Clark (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:05Foul by Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:01Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:00Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:00Olivia Smith (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:00Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:58Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Taylor Hinds.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:57Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Jenna Clark.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:57Attempt saved. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gabi Nunes.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:53Jenna Clark (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:00Attempt blocked. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:52Attempt saved. Gemma Bonner (Liverpool Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marie-Therese Höbinger with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:51Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Olivia Smith.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:50Substitution, Liverpool Women. Gemma Evans replaces Fuka Nagano because of an injury.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:50Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:48Delay in match (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:47Foul by Taylor Hinds (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:47Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:47Delay in match (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:45Goal! Aston Villa Women 1, Liverpool Women 2. Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women) header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Lucy Staniforth with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:43Foul by Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:40Second Half begins Aston Villa Women 0, Liverpool Women 2.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:40Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Miri Taylor replaces Missy Kearns.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:24First Half ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Liverpool Women 2.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:20Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:20Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:17Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Liverpool Women 2. Taylor Hinds (Liverpool Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:14Foul by Olivia Smith (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:13Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:13Foul by Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:12Jasmine Matthews (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:12Foul by Jasmine Matthews (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:10Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:10Attempt blocked. Olivia Smith (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marie-Therese Höbinger.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:07Grace Fisk (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:06Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:03Delay in match because of an injury Rachael Laws (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:02Attempt missed. Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from outside the box.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:01Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Grace Fisk.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:01Attempt blocked. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rachel Daly with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
17:00Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Liverpool Women 1. Taylor Hinds (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Leanne Kiernan.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:58Foul by Grace Fisk (Liverpool Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:57Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:54Offside, Liverpool Women. Olivia Smith is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:52Attempt missed. Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) left footed shot from outside the box.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:50Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Taylor Hinds.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:50Attempt blocked. Olivia Smith (Liverpool Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:44Taylor Hinds (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:45Foul by Katie Robinson (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:44Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:43Delay in match because of an injury Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:42Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:34First Half begins.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
16:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
14:30Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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