Women’s Super League: Manchester City face Manchester United on 2019-20 opening day
Manchester City will take on cross-city rivals Manchester United on the opening day of the 2019-20 Women’s Super League in early September.
United won the Women’s Championship and promotion from the second tier last season, 11 months after being formed.
Meanwhile, WSL champions Arsenal begin at home to West Ham, while newly-promoted Tottenham go to Chelsea.
The Women’s Championship gets under way on the weekend of 17/18 August with the WSL starting on 7/8 September.
Elsewhere, Birmingham City host Everton on the opening day for the second successive season, while Brighton travel to Bristol City and Liverpool take on Reading.
In the Women’s Championship, newly-promoted sides Blackburn Rovers and Coventry United travel to Lewes and Crystal Palace respectively.
Rovers comfortably won the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division by a 21-point margin last season, while Coventry finished top of the Southern Premier Division.
Initially, both Blackburn and Coventry United won promotion in order to have 12 teams in both the top two divisions next term.
However, the second tier will run with 11 teams next term after Yeovil Town Ladies were denied a licence for failing to meet the relevant criteria in May.
The reduction in teams means that Charlton Athletic will now have a free week on the opening weekend.
FA WSL opening weekend fixtures:
Arsenal v West Ham United
Birmingham City v Everton
Bristol City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool v Reading
Manchester City v Manchester United
FA Women’s Championship opening weekend fixtures:
Aston Villa v Sheffield United
Crystal Palace v Coventry United
Leicester City v Durham
Lewes v Blackburn Rovers
London Bees v London City Lionesses
