LFC Women to start new season with home fixture
Liverpool FC Women will start their new campaign with a home fixture against Durham.
The first game of the 2020-21 season will take place at Prenton Park on Sunday September 6 with kick-off set for 2pm BST.
A week later the Reds will travel south to face London Bees for their second game on either September 12 or 13.
Vicky Jepson's side are competing in the FA Women's Championship this season and are hoping to bounce straight back with promotion to the Women's Super League.
Today's fixture announcement for both leagues contained just the opening two fixtures, with the rest being unveiled in due course to prevent any clashes for those sides sharing grounds with Premier League or Football League clubs.
Durham finished third in FAWC last season, winning 10 and losing two of their league fixtures.
They met the Reds in the Continental Cup in December, with Jepson's team emerging 3-1 winners at Prenton Park.
London Bees finished the season as the fifth-placed team in FAWC.
LFC Women manager Jepson said: "It's a tough start to the season, which is exactly what we thought it would be.
"To be honest, whichever teams were put up, we know they will be looking to step it up against us.
"But we just can't wait to get started on our task for this season.
"It's nice to have the first game at Prenton Park. We've been monitoring the excellent pitch upgrade there during the break and we'll have a pre-season game there, too. It's looking really good and should play like a carpet."
Kelly Simmons, director of the Women's Professional Game, said: "We're really looking forward to seeing our players back on the field to show off their talent and showcase the very best of what the Barclays FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship has to offer.
"My hope is that they will be joined by supporters in our stadiums soon, because fans make the matchday experience even more special."
Opening two rounds of FAWC fixtures
September 5/6
Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace
Coventry United v London Bees
Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers
Liverpool v Durham (September 6, 2pm)
London City Lionesses v Sheffield United
*Lewes (spare team)
September 12/13
Blackburn Rovers v Charlton Athletic
Crystal Palace v London City Lionesses
Durham v Lewes
London Bees v Liverpool
Sheffield United v Leicester City
* Coventry United (spare team)