Stunning stats show Arsenal defeat to Liverpool could have huge WSL title ramifications

Arsenal Women's opening day defeat to Liverpool makes them favourites to win the WSL this season — that's what history tells us.

After suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to the Reds at the Emirates in front of a record crowd, the Gunners' season could be looking up.

Results show that in the past three WSL seasons, the eventual winner has never won their first game — a fact which bodes well for Arsenal.

Last season, Chelsea also lost their first game 2-1 to Liverpool before going on to win their fourth consecutive WSL title.

Chelsea's first game in the 2021/22 season was also a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal — but they turned it around to take the top spot.

And in the 2020/21 season, the eventual champions could only manage a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in their opener.

Arsenal can take confidence from knowing that Chelsea have turned around their less-than-perfect results to claim WSL victory three times in a row now.

The club have also been boosted by the announcement that manager Jonas Eidevall has just signed a new long-term contract.

And Eidevall was determined to turn Arsenal's season around following their opening loss to Liverpool.

He told talkSPORT: «At the end of the day, I think we can do better and that's where the disappointment lies.»

When asked about Arsenal's failure to pick up a convincing win in some time, he admitted it was hard to take.

He said: «We want to win football matches — I don't take that lightly.

»The way we have to look and approach this is to look forward, see what we can learn so we can develop — but, of course, it's frustrating."

While eventual champions Chelsea have failed to win their opener in the last three seasons, they have never lost their second fixture.

They claimed a 2-0 victory over