The WSL Column: Liverpool can challenge Man City and Chelsea this season, says Gemma Bonner

The FA Women’s Super League returns this weekend and with it comes Metro.co.uk’s WSL column. In association with BT Sport the star players from the WSL will be offering their views and insight across the season. Ahead of the first round of fixtures, which begins with the Merseyside derby, Liverpool Ladies captain Gemma Bonner explains why this season could be the most competitive yet…

We’re all really excited about the new season at Liverpool, particularly with the Merseyside derby to kick it off. With the calendar change [the WSL has switched from a summer to winter league to mirror the men’s schedule] it’s been a long pre-season but with everyone now back from the international break we’re raring to go.

Everton v Liverpool is obviously a derby game and I think it will live up to its billing. It will be one of our toughest matches – not just because it’s a derby but since getting promotion last season Everton have signed some quality players. But we’re looking to get off to a positive start as we know how costly dropped points can be.

Can Man City and Chelsea be beaten?

Over the last couple of years Man City and Chelsea have set the benchmark [City claimed the WSL title in 2016 and Chelsea lifted the Spring Series trophy] but the league is getting more competitive year on year. The Spring Series, in which Chelsea were pushed all the way by Man City, Arsenal and ourselves demonstrated that.

Every club is improving year on year and so is the competition for places in those sides. It makes for an exciting season ahead – I don’t think it’s possible to call any games.

We’ve seen a few players move on from the WSL over the summer, notably Shanice van de Sanden who left ourselves and Toni Duggan who changed Man City for Barcelona. But clubs have signed some exciting players to replace them with Everton, Chelsea and Man City adding real quality. I’m confident the standards will be as high as they’ve always been.

During the Spring Series [a shortened competition to bridge the change from a summer to winter league] Liverpool had some good results (and a few we weren’t happy with). We’re focused on improving on that. We want to be up there challenging – that’s what’s expected at a club like Liverpool. We need consistency.

The winter league

As players we really wanted some structure. At times over the last year or so we really struggled with the inconsistent fixture list. We would have a lot of games at once and then big gaps. It should really help our preparations, recuperation and planning.

In addition that regularity should really help the fans who will have a better idea when the games are expected to be. That has to be good for women’s football and will hopefully see our sport grow even more.

Watch Everton v Liverpool on BT Sport 1 from 7.15pm on Friday 22nd September. BT Sport is where the best in sport go head to head, bringing you live coverage of the WSL, Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Europa League, Emirates FA Cup, Aviva Premiership, European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, The Ashes, Boxing, UFC, NBA and MotoGP. For more information, visit www.BT.com/sport