An early touch for returning hero Toni Duggan. She'll have a big role to play this season.

Man City shift the ball quickly down the other end for a bit of pressure - exerting their authority as favourites.

The players take the knee to continue the fight against all forms of discrimination, to applause from supporters. And away we go...

Here we go then. The theme to Z-Cars is pounding out at Goodison and the players are heading out on to the pitch. A big day for women's football. The first free-to-air WSL game will be under way on the BBC in a matter of minutes.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Goodison Park

Four Everton players make their debuts from the start today and plenty of fans have got their names on the back of their shirts.

Toni Duggan is a home favourite so expect her to get a warm welcome back.

Feels like a game that both these sides need to make a statement in this afternoon. Manchester City fell just short of the title last year and will want to one better this time around. Everton have made a lot of signings in pursuit of breaking into the top three. A lot of ambition on show.

Rachel Brown-Finnis
Ex-England goalkeeper on Football Focus

I am so excited and so proud. Generations before us have worked so hard to get to where women's football is today. To see where it is now, that is a proud moment.

Rachel Yankey
Ex-England midfielder on BBC Match of the Day

I am hoping the game really explodes now. For all the young kids who can now see women's football. When I was kid, I didn't know there were female players playing. People have a dream now, they can see it and it is real.

Rachel Brown-Finnis
Ex-England goalkeeper on Football Focus

I truly believe that Everton think they will break into the top three. They haven't beaten any of the top three sides and that is what they will have to do this season.

Anita Asante
Aston Villa & England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It seems like Everton have hit the ground running in pre-season and have gelled quickly as a team. All those new players have had an impact. They clearly want to compete and challenge the top three sides. They are building confidence.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Everton have definitely strengthened every area of the pitch with the signings they have made. I think it is eight they've made. That is a lot. It is a short time for them to gel and that is hard. It shows their intent, which is fantastic. It will be interesting. Will they narrow the gap to the top four sides? I hope so. Man City will be favourites, but it will be an exciting game.

The first half ends with Olivia McLoughlin sending a long-range attempt narrowly wide. That's the closest Villa have come to scoring.

But it's the WSL newbies who have the lead at the interval.

Into stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Leicester are loving life in the WSL!

This lead is totally deserved. The Foxes, inspired by Natasha Flint, have been great.

Two minutes plus stoppages until half-time.

Carla Ward will be desperate to get her Villa players in the dressing room. A big half-time team-talk coming up. They've simply not got going.

Natasha Flint has been Leicester's standout player. She's threatened throughout the first half. But for that superb stop by Hampton, she would be celebrating a goal.

That's outstanding!

Villa half clear a ball into the box straight to Natasha Flint who launches it from about 25 yards.

It's heading for the top corner but Hannah Hampton stretches out a big hand to tip it away.

Flint cannot believe it.

Image source, Getty Images

Alisha Lehmann taps the ball into the net but it won't count. The referee had already blown for offside after a ball over the top.

That was more encouraging from Villa.

Now it's Paige Bailey-Gayle who is down after another tackle but the Leicester player is able to climb to her feet and carry on after a moment or two. Leicester keeper Kirstie Levell has had very little to do so far.