The Women’s Super League starts this weekend in explosive style, with a Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium, a London derby at Stamford Bridge and clear ambition to carry on the momentum from the World Cup. Scheduling big games in big stadiums shows it is not just words – everything is being put in place to help the domestic game capitalise on the extraordinary interest attracted over the summer. The FA Player, which will broadcast every game of the WSL season for free, and deals to show matches on TV in Mexico and Scandinavia, show a more professional, commercial outlook which should help women’s football in the UK progress even further in the coming years.

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With men’s football on an international break, there should be plenty of attention on the season’s first games on Saturday afternoon, including the match between Manchester City and a newly promoted Manchester United. Both teams have had busy summers in the transfer market, with United’s business particularly important before their first season in the top flight. Their most eye-catching signings have been the Dutch midfielder Jackie Groenen, a top player who attracted a lot of interest from clubs across Europe, and the defender Abbie McManus from City. They were two strong statements, and though I’m not sure they can put up a genuine challenge for a place in the top three, with their improved squad they will fancy their chances of taking points off anyone. City meanwhile have bolstered their forward line with the England striker Ellen White, after her amazing World Cup, and Lee Geum-min. The Korean is not a player I know well, but she has plenty of international experience and in their recent past City have rarely signed players from outside the EU so Lee’s arrival suggests they feel she can add real value. But last year’s runners-up have also suffered a bit of an exodus, with Nikita Parris’s move to Lyon the most high profile, and it is hard to say that their squad looks stronger overall than it did a year ago.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ellen White has joined Manchester City this summer after an excellent World Cup. Photograph: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images

Chelsea, champions two years ago, have signed only one senior player, the Norwegian forward Guro Reiten. I am not particularly concerned by this: when their challenge faltered last season there was some talk about tiredness, as they combined their WSL efforts with a run to the Champions League semi‑finals. The absence of European competition could allow their squad to push that bit harder domestically and perhaps get over the line. Arsenal, last season’s runaway champions, are in exactly the opposite situation, having to cope with the Champions League after adding only a few players. I am sure after their absence from Europe they will be keen to do well, and they face an Italian rival of ours, Fiorentina, who finished second in last season’s Serie A, in the last 32 first leg on 12 September. They are boosted by the return of Jordan Nobbs after long-term injury, a top player who’s likely to play every game, but on the other hand have lost Danielle Carter, whose ACL injury in a pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich was heartbreaking to see.

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The Gunners still have an extremely strong squad, so I’m sure many would expect Joe Montemurro’s side to retain the title, but though I also make them favourites I don’t expect their progress to be so straightforward this time. I remember last summer Juventus played Arsenal in preseason: they thrashed us 5-0 and we barely touched the ball, we just didn’t have any possession at all. I was sure then that they would win the league, and they proceeded to score 42 goals and keep seven clean sheets in their first nine games to set the tone for an incredible season. They are still a fantastic side, but I don’t expect to be seeing those kinds of statistics this year, when there should be more close games, and a few more shocks.

There are a couple of clubs – Reading, perhaps also United – who might fancy their chances of breaking into the top three, while Tottenham’s priority will be to establish themselves after their promotion – they provide Chelsea’s opposition this weekend, and will find it’s a big step up from the Championship to playing at a sold-out Stamford Bridge. Brighton, meanwhile, are in a similar situation in their second season in the top flight. I can see all these teams taking points off each other this season, making the division a lot more interesting than it was last term when the eventual winners and losers were obvious from pretty early.

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If there’s one team I worry about it’s my hometown club, Birmingham. Player turnover there this summer has been massive, enough to make me wonder if their players don’t believe in the project, or if something has gone on behind the scenes. After losing their outstanding goalkeeper, Ann‑Katrin Berger, midway through last season they have also now lost their best striker, White, and probably their best defender in Aoife Mannion – both to City, where Mannion swiftly got her first England call-up – while their promising young forward Charlie Wellings has gone to Bristol City. They have been punching above their weight in recent seasons, but I really hope this is not the year they fall away. Last year they relied a lot upon their defence, but after Mannion’s departure that strength is no longer there and they face a big rebuilding job. Looking at the clubs’ business this summer, Birmingham is the one that sets the alarm bells ringing.

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A close title race and competitiveness throughout the division would push the WSL on once again. After the summer the game has had, and the brilliant viewing figures we saw during the World Cup, this season will be a true test of the nation’s appetite for top-level women’s football. Kicking off with a couple of high-profile games in high-profile stadiums is a good way to start, but the proof of the clubs’ commitment will be when these are not just one-offs.

I played for Juventus at a sold-out Allianz Stadium last season, but these matches need to happen more frequently, allowing the clubs’ fans to get into the habit of going to games and to get to know their players. We might have to wait for that, though hopefully not for long: a lot of positive work has been done off the field in recent months to raise awareness of the WSL in Britain and abroad, and now I’m fully expecting to see interest and attendances rising once again.