Reaction from Jonas Eidevall to come, and my player ratings are already up on the Gooner Fanzine website.

FULL TIME! Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool Taylor’s strike three minutes into the second half has condemned the Gunners to a shock opening day defeat.

99' Little is urged to shoot and finds Pelova. Her effort is blocked. One minute of added time remaining. 0-1

98' Liverpool are working ever so hard to prevent every Arsenal attack, and now they can go forward themselves. Enderby's run took her into the box and her shot had to be blocked by Catley. 0-1

Beattie has been thrown upfront with 5 minutes of added time remaining and Arsenal still chasing an equaliser.

95' Jen Beattie is named the Arsenal Women Supporters Club Player of the Match, and I certainly agree with that decision. 0-1

94' Ilestedt almost meets the corner and Liverpool clear. It falls to Foord and her shot is wide via a deflection. 0-1

91' There will be TEN minutes of added time for Arsenal to find a goal. Ceri Holland is receiving treatment. 0-1

89' Jen Beattie with another crucial last ditch tackle to stop Flint breaking through! She would have been in on goal if it wasn't for Beattie's challenge. 0-1

86' Kyra Cooney-Cross is introduced for her Arsenal debut, replacing Lia Walti. The 22 year old midfielder joined on deadline day from Swedish side Hammarby. 0-1

84' Off the crossbar! Pelova found space in the box and Foord flicks the ball off the back of her head onto the bar- I'm not sure she knew too much about it but that was almost the equaliser. 0-1

81' Sophie Lungaard and Lucy Parry are on for Missy Bo Kearns and Taylor Hinds. 0-1

79' Finally referee Heaslip puts a stop to Liverpool's time wasting as a yellow card is shown to Hinds, who took way too long to take a throw in. 0-1

77' Laws races off her line to gather the ball after Blackstenius was played in behind. The goalkeeper is down injured again after the flag had gone up for offside- she had hurt her hand in similar fashion in the first half. 0-1

76' Big chance for Arsenal! McCabe volleys the ball back across goal and Blackstenius cannot turn it home. 0-1

75' Frustration for the Arsenal fans as Liverpool continue to slow down proceedings, unchallenged by referee Heaslip. 0-1

72' Hobinger is replaced by Enderby for Liverpool, and it's a straight swap for Arsenal as Stina Blackstenius comes on for Alessia Russo. 0-1

It's a new record attendance for a Women's Super League game! 54,115 fans are here at Emirates Stadium, meaning Arsenal have broken their own record.

70' Fantastic from Hurtig who slips past two Liverpool defenders into the box before picking out Pelova, who's left footed effort is deflected behind. Somehow the ref has given a goal kick. 0-1

67' Liverpool substitution as goalscorer Miri Taylor is replaced by Natasha Flint. 0-1

66' The corners keep on coming for Arsenal. This time Pelova's delivery is met by the tall figure of Hurtig at the back post, but her headers is wide. Laws takes her time with the resulting goal kick but goes unpunished. 0-1

65' Arsenal's corner picks out the feet of Jen Beattie, who's effort is blocked by Little! 0-1

64' Jonas Eidevall makes a triple substitution as Ilestedt makes her WSL debut from the bench in place of Wubben-Moy. Hurtig and Pelova replace Maanum and Lacasse. 0-1

62' Boos from the crowd as optimistic shouts for a penalty are waved away. Maanum's deep cross finds Lacasse at the back post and her effort is just wide. 0-1

61' Excellent from Little who beats her marker to break into the box but her shot is denied. 0-1

57' Pelova and Hurtig are warming up for Arsenal, and are now joined by Ilestedt. 0-1

56' Laws gets a hand to Catley's corner and the ball can't quite fall to McCabe at the back post. 0-1

53' Switch of play to Taylor who plays the ball back to the edge of the box, where Arsenal can deal with it. It's Liverpool who look more likely to score at the moment. 0-1

51' Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 on the opening day of last season and are really threatening an upset here. Beattie slides in to cut out a cross and it's a corner for Hinds. 0-1

48' Goal! Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool and the visitors lead at Emirates Stadium- Missy Bo Kearns cut the ball back to Miri Taylor who slipped the ball past Zinsberger. 0-1

46' Hinds jinxes past Lacasse and Walti was back to clear the danger. 0-0

46' The second half is UNDERWAY as Alessia Russo takes the centre kick. 0-0

Arsenal have also re-emerged. Both sides are unchanged.

Liverpool are first out onto the pitch and are warming up for the second half.

It finished 2-1 to Manchester United against Aston Villa, who had Kirsty Hanson sent off. Everton pulled one back but lost 2-1 to Brighton, whilst newly promoted Bristol City are drawing 1-1 with Leicester City. West Ham have just kicked off at home to Manchester City, and Chelsea play Spurs in the evening kick-off at Stamford Bridge.

Junior Gunner Freddie has just netted a superb penalty past Gunnersaurus- it's a great name!

A huge mention to Jen Beattie too for that important block to deny Hinds after Zinsberger had spilled the ball.

Something of a typical season opener as Arsenal gradually find their flow after a far from typical pre-season campaign. Liverpool goalkeeper Laws has made stunning saves to deny Wubben-Moy, Maanum and then Little, meaning it's goalless at the break.

HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool.

47' A moment to forget for Fuka Nagano who blazes her shot a long way wide. 0-0

45' Katie McCabe is booked for kicking the ball away. Two minutes of added time. 0-0

43' Kim Little was not far away from a stunning opener! Lacasse wins a strong header to find Little, who cuts onto her left foot and her strike is saved by Laws, who had to leap to her right. 0-0

40' Foord takes the ball down well and her powerful effort is again blocked. Wubben-Moy can stride forward but decides against it, moving the ball back to Little as Arsenal build another attack. 0-0

38' Foord cuts inside but her cross is straight into a Liverpool defender. Walti can't get a shot away after the ball ricocheted out to her. 0-0

36' The hard-working Taylor Hinds blocks Lacasse's cross, and Arsenal have the opportunity to swing another corner into the box. It's been a good spell by Liverpool. Laws is called into action again, getting her hand to a vicious half volley from Maanum! 0-0

32' Walti fouls Holland after Little and Maanum couldn't clear their lines. Free kick for the right-footed Kearns ten yards from the edge of the box, and it's not far wide. 0-0

30' Zinsberger spills a cross from deep but fortunately for her Beattie is there to block Hinds' effort just yards from goal. Fantastic from the Scot. 0-0

29' Hinds beats Russo easily and delivers a cross from the left which is headed away by a red shirt. A rare venture forward there for Liverpool, who then work the ball back to Hinds but Wubben-Moy clears. 0-0

27' Laws is good to continue after some treatment, but that definitely looked painful. She took her gloves off immediately but they're back on now and we continue in the Sunday afternoon sunshine. 0-0

25' Worrying for Liverpool here as Rachael Laws appears to have injured her hand, coming out to grab the ball away from the onrushing Lacasse. 0-0

23' McCabe's deep cross ends up testing Laws, who has no choice but to tip the ball over the crossbar. 0-0

22' McCabe's corner is short to Maanum, who finds Little. The captain's cross is too deep and behind for a goal kick. Liverpool need to find a way of preventing some of these corners, Arsenal's set-pieces have been terrorising the defence so far. 0-0

20' Fantastic save by Rachael Laws to deny Wubben-Moy! Another pinpoint corner and the England defender got her head to it, but that's a super stop from the Liverpool keeper. 0-0

20' Maanum drifts central to the edge of the box and tees up Foord- the Aussie's shot is deflected out for a corner. 0-0

19' Referee Emily Heaslip fell over out of nowhere as Liverpool attacked but is ok to continue! 0-0

16' Maanum has a crack at goal on her left foot and it's blocked on the edge of the box. Russo then finds McCabe and her ball in is saved by Laws at her near post. 0-0

15' Right on the money again into the six yard box but Hinds can smash the ball clear. 0-0

14' Maanum finds space in the penalty area and her pass back across goal is cut-out. Another corner, this time for Catley. 0-0

10' Little's cross from a narrow angle on the right was overhit but not far away from the top corner. Laws can watch it fly behind for a goal kick. 0-0

9' Yet another corner for Arsenal as Foord breaks through down the left wing and her cross is defended. 0-0

6' Foord again finds Maanum in a good position in the box and her shot had to be blocked and then cleared away by Fisk. 0-0

4' It looks like a back five for Arsenal with summer signing Cloe Lacasse at right wing-back. 0-0

3' Foord's cross finds the head of Maanum but the offside flag is raised. 0-0

3' Catley's delivery finds Lacasse but Liverpool clear. 0-0

2' Catley's in-swinging corner is headed behind by Hinds. 0-0

1' Lacasse finds Foord in the box and her shot is deflected wide. Arsenal corner. 0-0

1' We are UNDERWAY at Emirates Stadium! Both sides take the knee and Liverpool kick us off. 0-0

There will be a minute's silence for the tragic loss of Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack.

North London Forever is belted out by the Arsenal supporters, and it's time for kick off!

Both sides emerge from the tunnel and shake hands, it's time for the start of the 2023/24 Women's Super League season right here in North London!

Arsenal fans are on their feet to welcome the substitutes.

The teams are in the tunnel.

Ten minutes to go until Arsenal kick off the new Women's Super League season against Liverpool!

Elsewhere in the WSL, Everton are trailing by two goals to nil against Brighton just before half time thanks to a brace from Elisabeth Terland in the opening 15 minutes. It's goalless between Aston Villa and Manchester United approaching the hour mark.

Arsenal Women 2022/23 Player of the Season Katie McCabe is presented with her award pitchside to huge cheers from the Gunners in the stands.

'ACL club' Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Laura Wienroither and Teyah Goldie are all watching Arsenal warm up from the sidelines.

As ever, Jonas Eidevall is watching the opposition warming up. And he will have spotted that Liverpool's defence are going through a heading drill in a back five- Matt Beard's side are often comfortable to switch between a four and a five, but predominantly utilised the latter towards the end of last season.

Arsenal did the double over Liverpool last season, but Matt Beard's side finished seventh on their return to the top flight. Ten years after winning the Women's Super League title under Beard, the manager was rewarded with a new contract in the week.

A couple of star players are missing for Liverpool today. Summer signing Sophie Roman Haug, who represented Norway in the 2023 World Cup, sustained a nasty facial injury in the international break, and Dutch winger Shanice van der Sanden remains sidelined.

Anticipation is building at the Emirates with over 50,000 tickets sold. A few members of the fantastic Arsenal Women Supporters Club have just been interviewed by the matchday announcer, and I've seen a number of fans wearing the new away kit, which will be worn exclusively by Arsenal Women this season.

The BBC are reporting that Mika Biereth will miss today's game with a knee injury. I can confirm that the Arsenal Academy striker on loan at Motherwell is certainly not a part of Jonas Eidevall's plans!!

Jonas Eidevall said in Friday's press conference that Beth Mead "may" feature against Liverpool, but the England star is not included in today's squad.

It's been a while since I've been able to say this but Arsenal's squad boasts some serious depth at the start of this season. Sabrina D’Angelo, Noelle Maritz, Lina Hurtig, Victoria Pelova, Kathrine Kuhl, Stina Blacktenius, Laia Codina, Amanda Ilestedt, Kyra Cooney-Cross will all start on the sidelines.

Both sides are out warming up here at the Emirates, with Liverpool running through some drills in front of their travelling supporters.

Just had a look at the lineup from Arsenal's opening game of last season- Zinsberger, Little, Walti, McCabe and Foord are the five Arsenal players who start today having also started in that 4-0 win against Brighton at Meadow Park.

Noelle Maritz picked up a knock on international duty but is fit to start for Arsenal at right-back, with Steph Catley on the opposite flank. Huge cheers from the Arsenal fans as Katie McCabe's name is announced on the tannoy, after the Republic of Ireland captain committed her future to the club by signing a new deal on Friday.

Liverpool: Laws, Koivisto, Fisk, Clark, Bonner, Hinds (C), Nagano, Kearns, Holland, Taylor, Hobinger.

Arsenal hand league debuts to Alessia Russo and Cloe Lacasse, with fellow summer signings Codina, Ilestedt and Cooney-Cross starting on the bench.

Arsenal: Zinsberger, McCabe, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Catley, Walti, Little (C), Maanum, Lacasse, Foord, Russo

Team news is in!

Good afternoon and a warm welcome to my first live blog of the 2023/24 season! It's great to be back at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal get set to host Liverpool as the WSL season gets underway. Team news is just around the corner...

Good afternoon and a warm welcome to my first live blog of the 2023/24 season! It's great to be back at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal get set to host Liverpool as the WSL season gets underway. Team news is just around the corner...

Good afternoon and a warm welcome to my first live blog of the 2023/24 season! It's great to be back at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal get set to host Liverpool as the WSL season gets underway. Team news is just around the corner...