Chelsea's Community Shield Dominance Showed They're the Team to Beat in the WSL

How much can we really read into the Community Shield?

The competition made its return to women's football after a 12-year absence and reigning WSL champions Chelsea laid down a marker ahead of their title defence with a 2-0 win over Manchester City.

It could have been so many more had the world's best striker behaved like the world's best striker.

Yes the match is effectively just a fancy friendly - as evidenced by Jill Scott's red card carrying no suspension - but after six months without any domestic action, Saturday's showcase is all we have to make any hasty judgements and predictions ahead of the upcoming WSL season.

And on those 90 minutes alone, Chelsea are going to take some beating this season.

Although slightly aided by the harsh dismissal of Jill Scott with the deadlock still broken, once Chelsea hit their groove, they completely overwhelmed City. They moved the ball quickly, carving out opportunity after opportunity, only to find Australian hotshot Sam Kerr had turned into Leon Best when she found herself in front of goal.

And both sides looked considerably sharper than Arsenal had as they limped out of the Champions League on Saturday evening.

There was a real sharpness to both sides, which Arsenal had so desperately lacked during their quarter final defeat to PSG.

Even Kerr, although rusty in front of goal, had shown intelligent movement time and time again to create the openings for herself and run the City backline ragged. The instinct was still there, the cobwebs just need blowing off the execution.

Had City come up against a fully firing Kerr, or indeed a Beth England deemed fit enough to start, they would have been put to the sword.

In Keira Walsh, Caroline Weir and Jill Scott, the Citizens arguably boasted the WSL's strongest midfield last season. Never before had they been so overrun.

The addition of the world class Melanie Leupolz made Chelsea's midfield absolutely world class. The German international complimented the finesse of Ji So-Yun and the dependability and solidity of Sophie Ingle to perfection. She was composed, tenacious and energetic in an understatedly brilliant performance.

There were no signs of rustiness, and nothing to suggest it was the first competitive game the trio had played together. While City's new World Cup winning American stars have stolen the transfer window headlines this summer, the acquisition of Leupolz back in March could prove to be the shrewdest bit of business in the WSL.

While we're on signings, the return of Fran Kirby was like a new one for Chelsea. The diminutive playmaker will have been delighted to manage a full 70 minutes upon her return to action after nearly a year without a start. The deft touches, the close control and the attention to detail; all the signs were there that Kirby is well on her way to getting back to her irresistible best.

And to make matters more frightening for their WSL rivals, Emma Hayes' side are reportedly on the verge of adding Pernille Harder to their already ridiculously good squad.

Manchester City will improve as their fresh faces bed in and new manager Gareth Taylor stamps his mark on the side.

But for now Chelsea have set the bench mark. They are the best side in the WSL. It's now up to City, Arsenal & co to catch them.