Amy Merricks Birmingham City got off to a difficult start in their first game back in the WSL, facing off against the current champions Manchester City. This game ended in a 3-1 loss for the newcomers, with Mary Fowler scoring the opener and star striker Bunny Shaw scoring twice for the home team. Birmingham did manage to get a Can newly promoted Birmingham take the 3 points, or will Brighton hold strong away from home?    Birmingham City recruited well in all areas over the summer transfer window, signing midfielder Lisa Naalsund and centre-back Millie Turner from Manchester United, midfielder Suzu Amano from Växjö DFF, a team in the Damallsvenskan, the highest division in Sweden. They also signed striker Chancelle Effa Effa from La Havre in France, and centre-back Jade Rastocle and right back Marie Levasseur from Montpellier. They also signed goalkeepers Sophie Baggaley from today’s opponents, Brighton, and Katie Startup from Manchester City, another goalie who used to play for Brighton. These summer additions show the clubs aspirations to stay in the WSL and compete.     New manager, Arturo Ruiz also got off to a bad start with Brighton as his team faced a 1-0 loss to last season's second placed team, Arsenal. They conceded in just the 10th minute to arsenals new signing, Lisa Baum, who scored the only goal in the game. They will be hoping to score their first goal(s) of the season against this newly promoted side.     Brighton recruited just as heavy, signing goalkeeper Eleanor Heeps from Spurs, centre-back Gabby George from Manchester United, Lia Wälti, former Arsenal midfielder joined after just a year out of the WSL at Juventus. They also signed midfielder Emilie Marie Joramo, who joined from Hammarby IF, forward Aisha Masaka joined from BK Häcken, striker Olivia Garcia joined from AIK football, all teams in the Damallsvenskan, the Swedish top tier. Left winger Nadiya Krezyman joined from Dijon, in Frances top tier of football, the Première Ligue. From the WSL2 they signed right winger Sophie Peskett from Ipswich, and striker Emily Murphy from Newcastle.     With both teams having a lot of changes in the pre-season, both are in a stage of change. This means that the two teams both face the challenge of figuring out who works well together, and who doesn't, as well as figuring out each other's strength as teammates.     These 2 teams have met 13 times, with Birmingham winning just 3, Brighton winning 8, and the remaining 2 ending in draws. Their most recent matchup was in 2024, in the first round of the Women's League Cup. Brighton came away victorious that day, with former player Guro Bergsvand scoring the first, and Maisie Symonds and Fran Kirby, who both still play for the club, securing the win.     The question for today's game is; can returnees Birmingham re-establish their old WSL reputation, or will Brighton show the home team that recent WSL experience is key?