As preparations for the 2024/25 WSL season get underway, all 12 teams can now look ahead to September knowing their full league fixture list for the campaign.
In their sixth WSL season, Manchester United will host West Ham United on the opening weekend, in the hope of starting the season on a high to aid an improvement on last year’s fifth-placed finish.
When United faced West Ham at home last campaign, in November, United put 5 past their London counterparts at Leigh Sports Village, with Geyse opening the scoring within 3 minutes.
Further goals from Turner, Parris, García, and Malard secured Mark Skinner’s side the victory, with nothing beating Earps on the day.
This was not the case in the reverse fixture, however, with the teams sharing the points in a 1-1 draw, but a 4th-minute goal from Williams is a clear sign that Skinner’s side like to net early in this fixture.
Historically, United have shown strength on the opening weekend, having won their opening game in the last 3 seasons.
Last season, a match decided in dramatic fashion saw United come from behind against 10-woman Aston Villa to take all three points from a 2-1 win. A 79th-minute García goal cancelled out Villa’s opener, with a late 92nd-minute winner from Williams ensuring Skinner took maximum points at the start of the campaign.
A challenge set for early in the season comes on the first weekend of October when United are on the road against current WSL Champions Chelsea.
Under new management, the Blues will be looking to carry the momentum forward from their title-sealing 6-0 victory at Old Trafford in their final fixture of last season.
United have only beaten Chelsea once in their history: last season with their impressive 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory at Leigh Sports Village, a competition that they then went on to win.
But the Red Devils would love to capture their first league win and their first away win against Chelsea in what will be just their third league game of the season.
Their second fixture against Bompastor’s side comes in a tough triple-header for Skinner’s side which closes the season next May.
Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal all await Skinner’s side in their final three fixtures.
In last year’s league campaign, United only took 1 point from the six fixtures played against these three sides, a 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal in October.
United suffered defeat in the other five fixtures (Arsenal - A, Manchester City H & A, Chelsea H & A), a haunting stat which Skinner will be looking to combat.
Preparations within the club have already begun, with players who were called up by their countries set to rejoin the group in August.
A stint at St. George’s Park as well as a training camp in Marbella should well prepare the squad for a season in which they aim to improve on the 35 points scored last campaign, as well as defend their FA Cup title.
Crucially, it gives the squad a chance to adapt to the changes within the side, with both losses and additions to the club, before attention turns to the first fixture.
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