Chelsea to kick off WSL title defence against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea will get their Women’s Super League title defence under way with a clash against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on October 1.
The 5.30pm kick-off between Emma Hayes’ champions and Spurs, in their first match under new head coach Robert Vilahamn, is one of three games on the 2023-24 season’s opening day that are set to take place at Premier League grounds.
Last term’s runners-up Manchester United play Aston Villa at Villa Park in the day’s earliest contest (12.30pm kick-off), and Arsenal face Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester United’s Nikita Parris (left) and Aston Villa’s Laura Blindkilde in action (Tim Goode/PA)
Promoted Bristol City will begin their WSL return by taking on Leicester at Ashton Gate.
Tuesday’s fixtures announcement also revealed Manchester City are to go to West Ham and Everton host Brighton on the opening day.
Chelsea – who have lost their opener in each of the last two campaigns, and are bidding to secure a fifth successive title, and seventh overall – earlier this month announced the club were committed to holding four WSL games at Stamford Bridge during the 2023-24 season.
Arsenal had already confirmed they would be playing five at the Emirates, and after their match against Liverpool, the Gunners are scheduled to also play there in their next home fixture, against Villa on October 15.
The stadium is then set to host Jonas Eidevall’s side playing Chelsea on December 10, Manchester United on February 18 and Tottenham in a March 3 derby. Last September, Arsenal beat Spurs 4-0 there in front a WSL record crowd of 47,367.
Chelsea players celebrate with the WSL trophy (Nigel French/PA)
The second round of fixtures on October 8 features Manchester City v Chelsea and Manchester United v Arsenal.
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