The fixtures for the new Women’s Super League season have been announced.

A thrilling first round of games includes champions Chelsea facing Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United taking on Aston Villa at Villa Park and Arsenal hosting Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

Here, we take a look at some memorable opening-round encounters from previous WSL seasons.

Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal (2011)

The curtain-raising match of the division’s maiden season saw Gilly Flaherty score the first ever WSL goal.

It was a close-range finish just after the half-hour mark, as the Gunners edged the Blues in front of a crowd of around 2,500 at Tooting and Mitcham’s Imperial Fields.

Arsenal 3-2 Everton (2012)

A year later, Arsenal opened with a very different kind of victory at Meadow Park. 

The hosts fell behind early on to Toni Duggan’s effort, then responded via Danielle Carter and Jordan Nobbs inside the opening half-hour before Duggan equalised in the 58th minute. 

Katie Chapman subsequently notched what proved the winner seven minutes later.

Liverpool 1-2 Sunderland (2015)

A teenage Beth Mead starred as newly-promoted Sunderland inflicted a shock defeat on champions Liverpool in Widnes. 

Mead headed the visitors in front in the first half, then won a 78th-minute penalty that was converted by Brooke Chaplen to double the advantage. 

Satara Murray reduced the deficit soon after but the Wearsiders held on for a famous win.

Arsenal 3-2 Birmingham (2017-18)

Another come-from-behind triumph for the Gunners at Meadow Park that started with their former player Ellen White firing Birmingham ahead. 

Jodie Taylor levelled, only for White to notch again and Arsenal to then have Louise Quinn sent off with around 10 minutes to go.

But Lisa Evans swiftly made it 2-2 before Taylor then registered her second from the spot to seal victory for the home side.

Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United (2019-20)

The WSL’s first Manchester derby was settled by a fine Caroline Weir strike early on in the second half. 

The game took place at the Etihad Stadium and smashed the division’s attendance record, with 31,213 supporters watching from the stands.

Arsenal 3-2 Chelsea (2021-22)

Chelsea made a losing start to their title defence, with Mead again kicking off a campaign with a bang. 

Vivianne Miedema gave Arsenal the early lead at the Emirates Stadium and after Erin Cuthbert’s equaliser, Mead added a second-half brace. 

Pernille Harder did manage a reply but the champions were unable to salvage anything from a pulsating contest.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea (2022-23)

Liverpool pulled off a big upset on their return to the division as Chelsea once more opened with defeat a few months on from claiming the title. 

Emma Hayes’ side grabbed the lead in the third minute at Prenton Park thanks to a Fran Kirby penalty.

But the Reds — managed by ex-Chelsea boss Matt Beard — hit back with two spot-kicks of their own after the break, both converted by Katie Stengel.

Aston Villa 4-3 Manchester City (2022-23)

On the same day, Rachel Daly netted a debut brace at Villa Park to help her new side emerge victorious from a seven-goal thriller.

Alisha Lehmann and Daly had Villa 2-0 up, before things swung City’s way as a Laura Coombs brace, sandwiching a Khadija Shaw effort, took them into the lead. 

The hosts then turned things around again courtesy of Kenza Dali and Daly’s second.