Chelsea Women will begin the defence of their Women's Super League title on Sunday when they face London rivals Tottenham Hotspur Ladies at Stamford Bridge.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be targeting an improved season after finishing in ninth position in the 2022-23 campaign.

Match preview

Chelsea won their final seven WSL matches to hold off Manchester United and win the league title for a fourth consecutive season.

Emma Hayes's side also won their third successive FA Cup, while they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before being knocked out by eventual winners Barcelona.

The Blues saw two key players in Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder depart in the summer, but they delved into the transfer market to strengthen their squad as they look to enjoy another successful season.

Hannah Hampton, Ashley Lawrence, Sjoeke Nusken, Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel have all arrived in West London ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

Chelsea will be confident about their chances of starting the campaign with a positive result after winning their last 15 WSL home matches as part of a 26-unbeaten home league run, which stretches back to February 2021.

After finishing in fifth place with 32 points to their name in the 2021-22 season, Spurs were unable to match those standards in a difficult campaign last time around.

Tottenham experienced a tumultuous campaign, which included the sacking of Rehanne Skinner in March following a run of nine consecutive defeats in the WSL.

Interim boss Vicky Jepson helped steady the ship, guiding Spurs to the 18-point mark, ensuring that they finished the season in ninth place and seven points clear of the one and only relegation spot.

Spurs will head into the new campaign under new management after Robert Vilahamn was appointed as Skinner's permanent successor, and the Tottenham boss has seen a number of new players join the club during the summer, including Martha Thomas, Barbora Votikova, Olga Ahtinen and Luana Buhler.

Zhang Linyan and Grace Clinton have also arrived on loan, ensuring that Spurs enter Sunday's fixture with a new-look squad, and they will be hoping that their new additions can help them claim their first away win in the WSL since thrashing Brighton & Hove Albion in October last year.

Team News

Chelsea's Maika Hamano was recalled from her loan spell with Swedish side Hammarby due to a shoulder injury, and she is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery.

Millie Bright was named club captain ahead of the new season, and the England international is expected to line up in central defence alongside Kadiesha Buchanan.

After missing the majority of the 2022-23 season, Fran Kirby has recovered from injury and is set to start Sunday's league opener.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon one of their new additions, with Zhang currently representing China at the Asian Games.

Spurs captain Beth England is unavailable for Sunday's game against her former club after undergoing hip surgery earlier this month.

After arriving from Man United over the summer, Thomas will be looking to open her account when she features in the forward line on Sunday.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Musovic; Carter, Buchanan, Bright; Lawrence, Leupolz, Fleming, Reiten; James, Kirby, Kerr

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies possible starting lineup:
Votikova; Ale, Buhler, Bartrip, Neville; Bizet, Ahtinen, Spence, Ayane; Thomas, Graham

We say: Chelsea Women 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies

Chelsea are an irrepressible force on home turf, and we think that they will extend their unbeaten home league run to 27 matches by claiming an opening-day victory over their London rivals.

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