Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea and England defender on Sky Sports

I think she's [Aggie Beever-Jones] an exciting young player who's growing as every game goes on. She's thriving as that number nine.

An early chance for Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

Mia Enderby wins a free-kick on the right which Marie Hobinger stands over. Her swinging delivery finds Gemma Bonner but she heads wide.

Melvine Malard is pulled down by Jana Fernandez in the box and the referee points to the spot!

Image source, PA Media

A positive start from Aston Villa. They've been aggressive from the start, throwing numbers into the Chelsea box.

They're not holding back.

An early effort from Manchester United, who break down the left and whip a cross into the middle, but Melvine Malard can't hit the target.

They're having some luck down the flanks.

Here we go!

We're getting under way in Birmingham, London and Leicester.

The teams are out around the grounds.

Not long until we get started.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner, speaking to Sky: "It's a good challenge. Seeing the work London City have done, in the preparation, they've been doing it for a few seasons now and it'll be really exciting, tough. We're expecting a tough game but we've got to be ruthless. If we're ruthless then we'll win the game, but if not, then London City have more than enough quality to hurt us. We know how hard it's going to be, especially on the back of a two game week already but I think our players are hopefully ready for that.

"Today's going to be the test. I said to them in the hotel, this will be the test, if you want to win this game you have to win your individual duels. For all the tactics that will unfold in the game, if we win our duels both in and out of possession then we'll win the game."

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor said there were many “positives” to take from his side’s opening game of the season, despite suffering a heavy defeat to Everton

Liverpool took the lead through Cornelia Kapocs in the 12th minute but went on to lose 4-1, including conceding three goals in 15 minutes either side of half-time.

Taylor felt the result was “harsh” and was particularly happy with his side’s performance in the first 40 minutes.

"You don't always get what you maybe deserve," said Taylor. "I'm not saying we really deserved to win that game but I don't think we deserved what we got. I think we'll play worse in the future than we did in the first half and win the game.

"I felt there was something to grab hold of in that first 40 minutes performance. Dominated the game, really controlled the game in the manner I felt was deserving. I felt the scoreline was harsh on us, particularly when you look into the statistics.

"I think there's a lot of positives there. They are a really honest bunch of players and it's really exciting because the buy in from then has been on top. It's always about seeing signs of what you want to see in the future. Hopefully our supporters could see lots to be excited about."

Leicester City

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester are aware of the threats posed by Liverpool but will “play with no fear”, says interim boss Rick Passmoor.

Leicester are searching for their first win of the season after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United last weekend while Liverpool lost 4-1 to local rivals Everton.

But Passmoor, who only took the reins when Amandine Miquel was sacked less than a fortnight before the start of the season, says “the result will not define us” as Leicester are still a team in transition.

“Both teams have had a change in management and will be looking to step forward and, long-term, produce in the season. The result will not define us,” Passmoor said.

“At this part of the season, it’s gaining momentum in the game and making the most of that. Teams are still learning and players are still working off triggers and each’s other behaviours on the pitch.

“You’ll see passion from both teams.

“If you look at parts of the Everton game, they caused problems and had pace on the front line. We’ve got to be aware of their threats. We’re going to respect every opposition but play with no fear.”

• Leicester did the double over Liverpool in their debut WSL campaign (2022-23) but have won just one of their four league meetings since.
• Liverpool have lost three of their last four away games against Leicester in all competitions.
• Last season, Leicester won 85% of their points (17/20) at home - the highest proportion in the league.
• Liverpool's Marie Hobinger has three goal involvements in her last six league appearances (one goal, two assists) - as many as she managed in her previous 15.
• Leicester have only scored 21 league goals since the beginning of last season. Liverpool have scored 23.

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• Aston Villa have lost each of their 10 WSL meetings with Chelsea; only Tottenham Hotspur have faced a team more often in the competition without ever taking a single point, losing 11 out of 11 games played vs Chelsea.
• Chelsea have won each of their five Women’s Super League away games against Aston Villa by an aggregate score of 15-0, keeping nine clean sheets in 10 overall meetings with the Villans in the top flight.
• Chelsea have lost just one of their last 18 matches away from home in the WSL (W15 D2), losing 4-3 at Liverpool in May 2024. The Blues have won their opening away game in just one of the last seven campaigns (D4 L2), although that came last season via a 7-0 victory at Crystal Palace.

Aston Villa

Speaking in her pre-match news conference, Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo sayid her side have "nothing to lose" against Chelsea today.

“I probably prefer that [facing an unbeaten side] than facing a team that is losing all of their games because you have less pressure. We have this nothing to lose feeling around, maybe because of the media, the fans and the expectation on the opponent. We are not here competing for the title, they are.

“We need to face this knowing that it is our first game at home. This is the toughest opponent that we can face but it’s a challenge where we want to show ourselves to see how much we need to grow and how ready we are. We will try to play a competitive game without fear but with a lot of respect because they’re super-good. We have our tools to make them feel uncomfortable.”

If you want to get in the mood for London City's game at 12:00 BST, why not check out the latest episode of Women's Football Weekly?

Ben Haines is at Cobdown Park, the home London City Lionesses, as they look ahead to their first season in the WSL as the league's only side to not have an affiliated men's team.

Listen on BBC Sounds

Manchester United

This game is sandwiched between a two-legged Champions League qualifier against Brann for Manchester United.

They lost the first leg 1-0 in midweek and host the Norwegian side in the second leg on Thursday.

Reds boss Marc Skinner said his side need to show "mental resilience" today, like they needed in the first leg of their Champions League tie.

"I think it will be a difficult game," Skinner said. "I said it to our players after the [Brann] game, and I'll say it again this morning, it's about mental resilience in this game.

"We have the quality to unlock them, and they have the quality to unlock us, so I think we have to utilise their crowd, utilise everything against us, and then try and be clinical where possible.

"We have have to be clinical. We have to be ruthless."