The 2022-23 Women's Super League season kicks off on Friday with Arsenal Women playing host to Brighton & Hove Albion Women.
Arsenal will harbour hopes of winning their first league title since the 2018-19 campaign, while the Seagulls are looking to better last season's seventh-placed finish.
Match preview
Despite losing only one of their 22 league games last term, Arsenal narrowly missed out on the league title to London rivals Chelsea.
They may have finished the campaign as the highest scorers and with the league's best defensive record, but they ultimately fell one point short of the Blues.
Rather than wholesale changes, Arsenal have made slight alterations to their squad over the summer in preparation of a title bid.
Nikita Parris has left the club to join Manchester United, while Kaylan Marckese, Lina Hurtig and Gio Queiroz have all signed for the Gunners, although the latter has headed out on a season-long loan to Everton.
With 17 wins from 22 games proving to be insufficient to clinch the silverware last term, Arsenal know that they cannot afford to drop points even in the first game of the season if they wish to challenge the defending champions.
Meanwhile, Brighton experienced a mixed 2021-22 season after beginning the campaign with five wins from their opening seven league games.
However, they lost 10 of their remaining 15 games which resulted in the Seagulls dropping down the WSL table to seventh place.
Hope Powell will hope that her side can replicate last season's early form this time around, but she will be aware that a much-changed squad could need time to settle.
As many as 10 players departed the club over the summer, while six players were brought in to bolster the side, including Veatriki Sarri and Poppy Pattinson, who previously played for Birmingham City and Everton respectively.
Although Brighton have their work cut out to claim a positive result on Friday, they can take confidence from their previous away meeting with Arsenal where they competed well in a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Team News
Despite having concerns over the fitness of Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord, Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has indicated that pair are available for selection.
Fresh from lifting the Euro 2022 trophy, Leah Williamson is expected to start in central defence alongside Rafaelle, who is beginning her first full season with Arsenal.
After scoring 25 league goals between them last season, Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead will look to begin the new campaign in goalscoring form.
As for the visitors, Powell could hand competitive debuts to Jorja Fox and Pattinson, who are both set to feature in the backline.
Sarri and Yeeun Park are also in contention to make their first appearances for Brighton after joining the South coast side in the summer.
Lee Geum-min is set to be given the lonely task of leading the line in a game where chances could be few and far between for the visitors.
Arsenal Women possible starting lineup:
Zinsberger; Martiz, Williamson, Rafaelle, Catley; Walti, Little; Mead, Miedema, McCabe; Blackstenius
Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Walsh; Fox, Williams, Kullberg, Pattinson; Sarri, Connolly, Symonds, Park, Robinson; Lee
We say: Arsenal Women 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Women
Although Brighton competed well in their most recent away meeting with Arsenal, we think that the Gunners will want to make a statement on the opening day of the season, which we believe could result in a comfortable victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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