Leah Galton drops her shoulder nicely to get away from Anna Patten, but Rachel Corsie is at hand to marshal the United forward.

Ben Miller
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

While the warm-ups continue here, it's worth noting that Arsenal have sold more than 50,000 tickets for today's game, which could break the WSL attendance record they set last season.

Last September they sold 53,737 tickets for their match against Tottenham, which translated into an attendance of 47,367.

There's more to come, too: the Gunners have confirmed at least five of their 11 WSL home games will be at their 60,000-plus capacity Emirates Stadium, compared with three last season.

Teams are once again looking to stage more of their matches at their larger grounds this season, with Stamford Bridge and Villa Park also welcoming fans today.

In 2022-23, only West Ham did not play at their club's bigger stadium at some point during the campaign.

Good save!

Daphne van Domselaar is at hand to keep out an Ella Toone effort - but did she cross the byline when running towards goal? The Villa goalkeeper wasn't happy.

Image source, PA Media

Martina Piemonte tries to play a through ball to Nicoline Sorensen but Maria Thorisdottir is on hand to cut it out.

I'm not sure if Katie Zelem meant to send a cross or shot towards Daphne van Domselaar there.

Whatever it was it was easily caught by the Villa keeper.

Image source, Getty Images

Free-kick into the box and Martina Piemonte is at the back post. She gets a touch on it but cannot send it goalwards.

The first yellow card of the afternoon goes to Brighton's Maria Thorisdottir after pulling back Martina Piemonte. Free-kick to Everton.

It hasn't been the most energetic of starts, but Manchester United are building into the pressure with which they ended the first half.

They're tentatively moving into the Villa third once more.

Image source, Reuters

The second half is under way!

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Villa Park

It looks like Ebony Salmon is getting ready to come on at half-time for Villa. She's taken off her tracksuit and is getting last-minute instructions from manager Carla Ward.

Carla Ward makes an attacking change at the break with Ebony Salmon replacing Laura Blindkilde Brown.

Elisabeth Terland is on a hat-trick but she won't get it like that.

She shoots high and wide after a clever pass from Pauline Bremer.

Brighton are still in control.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City's first match back in the Women's Super League sees manager Lauren Smith start some of those players with top-flight experience that she bolstered her squad with over the summer.

Former Liverpool midfielder Rachel Furness starts alongside Megan Connolly, who joined Bristol from Brighton this summer and captains the side.

No start for Shania Hayles, Bristol's top scorer last season, she is on the bench with Smith instead opting for Danish new arrival Amalie Thestrup up top.

Starting XI: Bentley, Aspin, Murray, Layzell, Powell, Rodgers, Furness, Connolly, Morgan, Thestrup, Jones

Subs: Hayles, Marckese, Napier, Mustaki, Bull, Syme, Simpson, Teisar, Ward

For Leicester, Willie Kirk is also showcasing his summer signings with highly-rated goalkeeper Janina Leitzig starting between the sticks.

Belgium's most-capped player Janice Cayman brings her experience to the midfield while Aimee Palmer will face her former side having joined the Foxes from Bristol this summer.

Kirk has managed to keep hold of some of his core squad with Courtney Nevin returning after a successful loan season last year and caprtain Aileen Whelan also ever-present in the midfield.

Starting XI: Leitzig, Nevin, Tierney, Howard, Palmer, Whelan, Cayman, Thibaud, Goodwin, O'Brien, Petermann

Subs: Mears, Bott, Green, Robinson, Baker, Rantala, Rose, Cain

Ben Miller
BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus is already proving popular and happily posing for photos backstage at Emirates Stadium, where his team are hoping to make a bright start again this time after starting last season with two successive home victories as part of a six-match winning run.

At the entrance, fans are excitedly awaiting the arrival of the teams and were thrilled to see Leah Williamson wearing an impressively jazzy Gunners tracksuit and sharing a few snaps with supporters too.

England captain Williamson said this week that she hopes to return from her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in January, which will be a huge boost for her club and country.

In the meantime, the defender will be hoping there is no repeat today of Liverpool's outstanding first game of last season, when they shocked reigning champions Chelsea 2-1. Matt Beard's side did lose five in a row as part of a seven-match winless stretch after that, though, so the visiting manager will probably be hoping for a more even early run of form this time.

Nathalie Bjorn puts a deep cross in and there is a bit of a scramble in the box.

The ball drops to Martina Piemonte who is crowded out as she tries to shoot.

A sustained spell of pressure in the Brighton box.

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on BBC Two

I think we will see some of the Man United debutants come on in the second half.

Marc Skinner looks to have gone with a team full of players that are familiar with the style of play they like to use, so to throw lots of new players into the mix might unbalance things slightly.

But I think some of them, Miyazawa maybe, will come on in the second half if they need something different, to add more energy and creativity on the pitch.

Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC Two

Villa forward Rachel Daly had looked very frustrated at times.

She has been making runs but whether the Villa midfielders can't find her with passes or are opting to maintain possession, she is not receiving the ball enough.

They need to find a way to bring her into the game as she was their key attacking force last season.

Image source, Getty Images

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on BBC Two

I think Carla Ward will be much the happier of the two managers.

Villa have been very disciplined defensively and very organised and kept United at bay.

United have found it difficult to break down the Villa defence, they have created a few openings but not enough. Mary Earps has been very quiet in goal too.

For me the game has been too slow. There was excitement to get back to the WSL but it has been a bit flat at times.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner hung back to chat with his coaching staff before heading down the tunnel.

Striker Rachel Daly and Villa captain Rachel Corsie were in deep conversation, presumably discussing what they wanted to raise in the dressing room.

United were starting to cause more and more problems as the half wore on but Villa will be reasonably pleased. They just need to tweak a few things.