Manchester United vs Arsenal LIVE: Women’s Super League team news, lineups and more as Alessia Russo starts

Manchester United XI: Earps, George, Le Tissier, Blundell, Toone, Zelem, Galton, Ladd, L. Garcia, Turner, Geyse

Arsenal XI: D’Angleo, Beattie, Catley, Little, Waltie, Maritz, Pelova, Russo, Blackstenius, Codina, Ilestedt

Here’s a look at how defending champions Chelsea fared in their opening game:

Champions Chelsea opened their defense of the Women’s Super League title with a 2-1 win Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Australian striker Sam Kerr, who was injured at the World Cup, was not in the squad – but Chelsea debutant Mia Fishel gave the home team the lead with a header in the 27th minute.

England international Lauren James added another goal early in the second half from a cross from Guro Reiten, whose first attempt appeared to be cleared behind the line.

Here’s a look back at the summer transfer window:

As women’s football continues to grow in England, transfer fees are also increasing. A Women’s Super League manager described this summer’s window as “wild” after big money was spent.

Fifa reported that $3 million (£2.4 million) was spent during the 2023 mid-year transfer window, which is double the amount (£983,000) spent by women’s clubs worldwide in 2022.

While spending in the women’s game lags far behind the sums spent in the men’s game, spending has risen rapidly, particularly in the last 12 months, as more funding is used following a golden period for the Lionesses.

Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal will be looking to show that their shock home defeat to Liverpool in front of a sell-out crowd on the WSL’s opening weekend was a blip.

Arsenal narrowly pushed Manchester City into third place last season, but just weeks after the World Cup final the weary side failed to qualify for the group stage of the Women’s Champions League and were eliminated by Paris FC.

Manchester United finished second in the WSL last year, automatically qualifying for the group stage and winning on the opening weekend.