Birmingham City head coach Amy Merricks says her promoted side will go "toe-to-toe" with Women's Super League champions Manchester City on Sunday at Joie Stadium. The Blues return to the top flight after winning the WSL 2 title, ending a four-year absence. Their last visit in May 2022 ended in a 6-0 defeat and relegation, but Merricks insists her team is "here to compete, not just make up the numbers." Birmingham scored an average of 2.09 goals per game last season and Merricks vows to maintain their attacking identity: "We are a progressive team, we will find ways to create and score."

Man City boss Andree Jeglertz recalls a tough 1-0 FA Cup quarter-final win at Birmingham five months ago, praising their tactical discipline and transition play. "They were tactically very good and destroyed all the space on the field," he said. City begin their first title defence in a decade and Jeglertz demands a "mood of hunger" rather than protection.

City will be without forward Vivianne Miedema until at least late autumn due to a knee injury, while defender Rebecca Knaak misses out with a foot issue. Jade Rose and Grace Clinton have returned to training, but summer signing Niamh Charles is a "big question mark" for the opener.