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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Standard sport

Derbies dominate opening weekend of expanded Women’s Super League

The new Women’s Super League season kicks off with two tasty London derbies and newly-promoted Tottenham travel to Chelsea and champions Arsenal host West Ham.

Manchester United will make their Women's Super League debut against near neighbours Manchester City when the season begins in September.

Casey Stoney's side won the Championship title by nine points in their inaugural campaign and will make their maiden top-flight appearance at City, who finished runners-up and won the SSE Women's FA Cup and Continental League Cup last season.

The opening matches in the new-look 12-team league will be played on the weekend of September 7-8. The remaining fixtures will be announced next Wednesday.

Other opening-weekend matches see Birmingham host Everton, Bristol City at home to Brighton and Reading go to Liverpool.

"It's a very exciting time for women's football with the country currently swept up in the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Lionesses performing brilliantly," said Kelly Simmons, director of the women's professional game.

"We're looking forward to this increased interest carrying over into our domestic game next season and beyond.

"Opening weekend is packed full of great fixtures that are sure to set the tone for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting domestic season yet and we look forward to releasing the full fixture list next week."

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