The Blues – now overseen by new head coach Sonia Bompastor – begin the 22-game WSL campaign at home to Aston Villa. The first away match of the campaign follows against newly-promoted Crystal Palace.

High-profile opposition follows in the shape of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Liverpool and Man City, meanwhile, are to come in November for Bompastor and her side.

Three league matches will be played at Stamford Bridge during the forthcoming season. The first is that City fixture in November. Arsenal's visit in January and our final game of the campaign against Liverpool will also take place in SW6.

Each fixture across a campaign has its importance. It will be no different for the Blues in the season ahead. Yet what are the standout dates for the diary? The matches that can't be missed?

Chelsea vs Manchester United | 4-6 October 2024

Two seasons ago, United pushed us to the final day in the race to be crowned Women's Super League champions.

A result that proved critical in that battle was our hard-fought victory over United at Kingsmeadow courtesy of a stunning Lauren James pass which enabled Sam Kerr to deftly net our winner.

Our fixtures against United last season were equally important in overhauling their local neighbours Manchester City in a dramatic title race.

A Lauren James hat-trick secured a 3-1 win when the Red Devils came to west London in one of our strongest team performances of the year.

The best was saved until last, however. On the final day, we produced a scintillating attacking display at Old Trafford to secure a 6-0 win and confirm the league championship.

This time around, our first clash with United arrives on matchday three. It should give the Blues an opportunity to put down a marker for the campaign ahead.

Arsenal v Chelsea | 11-13 October 2024

Hot on the heels of United’s visit to west London comes our first meeting of the year with capital rivals Arsenal.

Our last visit to the Emirates Stadium proved one of the more difficult days of the 23/24 season, as we went down to a 4-1 defeat despite Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s excellent first-half strike.

A trip to north London is always one of the toughest assignments of the season and will provide a good test for Bompastor and her players.

The fixture should also offer the chance to end our winless run at that particular venue. A 3-2 defeat on the opening day of the 2021/22 season was succeeded the following year by a 1-1 draw after a stunning late header from Sam Kerr salvaged a point.

Liverpool v Chelsea | 8-10 November 2024

Former Chelsea manager Matt Beard and his Liverpool side will provide stern opposition on the second weekend of November.

This trip will be significant to the Blues for two reasons. Firstly, it provides the chance for some payback after our recent pain on Merseyside.

We have suffered defeat on our last two away days at Liverpool, with last season’s dramatic 4-3 defeat at Prenton Park seeing us lose ground in the title race.

The year before saw us lose 2-1 on the opening day, in a see-saw contest featuring three penalties given and the Blues having a goal controversially ruled out.

The season ahead gives us a chance to end the run – and it will also give our travelling support a new WSL venue to visit.

The Reds have moved from their previous home at Tranmere’s Prenton Park to the St Helens Stadium, which is a short journey from the city centre.

Chelsea v Manchester City | 15-17 November 2024

Our first outing at Stamford Bridge in 2024/25 is also one of the biggest fixtures of the campaign.

Only goal difference separated us in top spot from Manchester City in second place last season – and ensured we ended the campaign as champions once more.

The two league games were also remarkably close contests. Guro Reiten’s dramatic late equaliser earned us a point at the Academy Stadium last term, in a game where City were reduced to nine players.

But Gareth Taylor’s side then edged out a tight contest at Kingsmeadow in February, thanks to a Khadija Shaw goal.

There is a first meeting at the Bridge this time around, and it could also prove the first occasion new signing Lucy Bronze faces her old club in a Chelsea shirt.

As the only side we failed to beat at least once in the league last season, a win on home soil would be a statement of intent from the Blues.

Tottenham v Chelsea | 2-4 May 2025

A league double over Tottenham was vitally important in our successful title defence last season, with both games going down to the wire.

On the opening day of the campaign at the Bridge, goals from Mia Fishel and Lauren James put us firmly in control.

But Martha Thomas pulled Spurs back in the contest in the latter stages and ensured it was a nervy final quarter of an hour, although we eventually held on to start on a winning note.

The reverse fixture at Brisbane Road came on the final day of the season. Anything less than a win would hand Manchester City the title advantage. The pressure was firmly on.

Step forward Maika Hamano, with her first-half goal the difference between the sides.

This season we again find ourselves facing Spurs on their own patch in our penultimate league fixture. Could this game once again prove significant in deciding the destination of the title? Time will tell.