Last season the FA Women’s Super League, the top flight of women’s football in England, went down to the final day of the season, with Liverpool Ladies retaining the title on goal difference. Yesterday, the FA Women’s Super League kicked off once more with Liverpool against Sunderland.
The FA Women’s Super League, now in its 5th season, has expanded to two divisions and now allows for promotion and relegation between all tiers in the women’s game. The top flight currently contests of 8 clubs playing out a 16 game season, with lower divisions such as the FA Women’s Premier League North and South (tier 3) containing 12 clubs and a 22 game season which started in August and is already 15 games into the season. Many experts are split on the sides favourited to win the competition with the current three frontrunners being Birmingham City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
As for the game, newly promoted Sunderland were able to stun the defending champions 2-1 scoring a headed goal and penalty before the Black Cats were able to hold on for the victory. Sunderland have now only lost 6 league games in the past 4 seasons and have not lost an away league game since April of 2013. The loss is a dent in a short season and title defense campaign for Liverpool, who will need to move on quickly from the loss as they host fellow title contenders Birmingham City on the 1st of April.
