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MANCHESTER, England \u2013 Manchester City kicked off their Women\u2019s Super League title defence with a 3-1 win over promoted \u200bBirmingham City, as last season\u2019s top scorer Khadija Shaw struck \u200ca second-half double on Sunday.<\/strong><\/p>\n Birmingham\u2019s defence, which held out through the first half, finally succumbed to sustained pressure four minutes after the break as Mary Fowler \u200bseized on a poor clearance and found the bottom corner.<\/p>\n Last season\u2019s \u200bPFA\u00a0women\u2019s player of the year, Shaw, doubled the champions\u2019 \u2060lead six minutes later, heading Kerstin Casparij\u2019s corner into the net. Shaw \u200bscored from another corner in the 86th minute, finding the target with \u200ba powerful header from Beth Mead\u2019s set piece.<\/p>\n Oceane Hurtre scored a consolation goal for Birmingham four minutes later, stealing the ball from defender Jade Rose and shooting into \u200bthe unguarded net.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing was to get the win \u200band start off on the right foot. I think we did that today\u2026 we \u200chave \u2060to keep on going,\u201d Shaw told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n Fellow newcomers Charlton Athletic were also given a tough introduction to the top flight as Grace Fisk scored twice in Liverpool\u2019s commanding 4-0 victory.<\/p>\n Crystal Palace, who finished second behind \u200bBirmingham in WSL \u200b2 last season, \u2060enjoyed a happier return to the top division, beating Everton 1-0 through Lexi Lloyd-Smith\u2019s 34th-minute winner.<\/p>\n Last season\u2019s \u200brunners-up Arsenal secured a 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove \u200bAlbion earlier \u2060on Sunday, with 19-year-old winger Lisa Baum marking her club debut by surging forward from midfield and finishing left-footed from a tight angle in \u2060the 10th \u200bminute.<\/p>\n Arsenal\u2019s north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur eased \u200bto a 3-1 win over West Ham United, with Scotland forward Kirsty Hanson scoring twice \u200bon her Spurs debut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n