Continental Cup: Holders Arsenal Ladies draw Reading in new cup format

England's Jordan Nobbs scored twice in the 2015 final as Arsenal beat Notts County 3-0

Holders Arsenal Ladies will travel to fellow top-flight side Reading in the first round of the Women's Continental Cup, which has a new knockout format.

The cup - won by Arsenal for the fourth time in its five-year history in 2015 - involves all 19 sides from Women's Super League One and Two.

The six lowest-ranked sides from 2015 were drawn into a preliminary round.

All eight of last season's WSL 1 sides move straight to the first round, and were deliberately drawn away from home.

Manchester City, the 2014 winners, are away to WSL 2 outfit Aston Villa in the first round, while Everton will host Liverpool in a Merseyside derby.

Preliminary Round draw

Sheffield v Durham

Oxford United v Millwall Lionesses

Watford v London Bees

First Round draw

Doncaster Rovers Belles v Sunderland

Yeovil Town v Notts County

Oxford United or Millwall Lionesses v Birmingham City

Everton v Liverpool

Aston Villa v Manchester City

Reading v Arsenal

Watford or London Bees v Chelsea

Sheffield or Durham v Bristol City

The preliminary round will take place over the weekend of Saturday 7 May and the first round is scheduled for Saturday 2 July and Sunday 3 July.