Overview
- Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano scored for the champions, with debutant Ellie Carpenter supplying the opener.
- Niamh Charles diverted an Alex Greenwood free-kick into her own net to set up a tense finish before Chelsea closed it out.
- City lost Greenwood and Lily Murphy to late injuries, with further assessments pending.
- Jeglertz took his first defeat as City manager as Chelsea opened their title defence after last season’s domestic treble.
- Chelsea unveiled record signing Alyssa Thompson before kick-off but did not use her, while City debuted Sydney Lohmann and Jade Rose and brought on Iman Beney as Grace Clinton missed out with a knock.