By Tony Leighton

The new Women's Premier League season is set for a muted opening on Sunday, when only three matches will take place.

England's preparations for next month's Women's World Cup finals are the main reason for the truncated fixture list.

On a day when they would normally be kicking off for their club sides, the players in Hope Powell's squad will be flying to Macau to acclimatise for the finals in China.

Five clubs - Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Leeds and Doncaster Belles - have no League matches scheduled until late September due to their players being on international duty.

And Charlton Athletic, trying to reform as a new set-up after being disbanded by their Premier League parent club, have had their start delayed with the same time frame.

That leaves just half of the top flight's clubs to contest the campaign's first six weeks, during which newly-promoted Liverpool and Watford will aim to collect vital points.

The Hornets are set to start their first season as a National Division club with a home game against Birmingham City on Sunday.

The Reds, back in the top flight two seasons after being relegated, visit a Bristol Academy side which last season had a best ever fourth-place finish.

Cardiff City, who avoided relegation by only a single point last term, visit Blackburn Rovers in the final fixture of the opening weekend.

Of the six clubs whose fixtures have been put back only Everton, last season's runners-up to Arsenal, have seen any competitive action to date.

The Toffees have this week come through the first-round group stage of their Uefa Cup campaign with a 100% record from three matches played in Lithuania.

They beat host side Gintra Universitetas 4-0, Irish team Glentoran 11-0 and FC Zuchwil (Switzerland) 5-0.

But in the second-round groupings, to be played in November, they have a tough task as FFC Frankfurt - twice winners of the competition - are one of their three opponents.

Meanwhile Arsenal, handed a first round bye as holders, will face opposition from Italy, Austria and Kazakhstan in their second round group.