Manchester City to play United at Etihad Stadium in opening game of 2019/20 Women's Super League

Manchester derby opens the new season on September 7 while Stamford Bridge will play host to Chelsea v Tottenham the following day

Manchester City women's players Step Houghton, left, and Jill White, centre, were part of the England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2019 Women's World Cup in France. Reuters

Manchester City will play Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in their opening fixture of the 2019/20 Women's Super League (WSL) in September, the club has confirmed.

City, who finished runners-up to champions Arsenal last term, will meet neighbours United at the 55,000-capacity Etihad Stadium on September 7. It will be the second time City have played at the Etihad Stadium, having defeated Everton 1-0 there in the group stages of the 2014 League Cup.

In another significant choice of venue, Stamford Bridge, with a capacity of 41,000, will host a London derby the following day as Chelsea welcome Tottenham Hotspur.

City have said they will allow up to three children under 16 to attend the United match for free with the purchase of an adult ticket, while Chelsea said entry for the match against Spurs will be free.

The WSL aims to capitalise on the growing popularity of the women's game in Britain following England's run to the semi-finals of the recently concluded World Cup. Almost 12 million people tuned in to watch England's semi-final defeat to eventual winners the United States on July 2.

Manchester City women were well represented at the World Cup, with Abbie McManus, Demi Stokes, Georgia Stanway, Jill Scott, Karen Bardsely, Keira Walsh, Nikita Parris and Step Houghton all part of Phli Neville's England squad  in France.

Kelly Simmons, the English Football Association's director of women's professional football had previously said some WSL matches will be played as "double-headers" with men's Premier League games next season.

A full fixtures list for the remainder of the season will be announced on Wednesday.