There will be another Women’s Manchester derby in the 2019/20 season after the Continental Cup group stages were drawn today.
Manchester City’s Women’s team have been drawn in Group C alongside Birmingham City, Everton, Leicester City, and Manchester United.
City, who have lifted the trophy twice, will have to navigate a tough group stage against three other WSL opponents.
They won last season’s competition after a penalty shootout at Bramall Lane to beat Arsenal.
City won the 2014 with Izzy Christiansen scoring the only goal in a game also against Arsenal.
The top two teams in each group will proceed to the knock out stages with the Continental Cup Final to be played on Saturday February 29, 2020 in a venue yet to be confirmed.
Summer signing Ellen White is no stranger to lifting the trophy, having done so in three consecutive years with former club Arsenal starting in 2011.
White scored in two of those three finals and City will be looking for a similarly positive contribution from the in-form England Lioness when she starts the season with City.
White and City’s other England Lionesses are still enjoying an extended break after their World Cup campaign.
City’s other squad members returned to training recently, with Laura Coombs, Aoife Mannion, and Matile Fidalgo all featuring in training and team bonding exercises ahead of the new season.
Continental Cup 2019/20 Groups
Group A: Aston Villa; Blackburn Rovers; Coventry United; Durham; Liverpool; Sheffield United
Group B: Arsenal; Brighton & Hove Albion; Bristol City; Charlton Athletic; London Bees; London City Lionesses
Group C: Birmingham City; Everton; Leicester City; Manchester City; Manchester United
Group D: Chelsea; Crystal Palace; Lewes; Reading; Tottenham Hotspur; West Ham United
Precise fixtures haven’t been set up yet but the they will take place in the following windows:
21/22 September
19/20 October
2/3 November
20/21 November
11/12 December