Opening Weekend Fixtures
The Premier League 2025/26 season begins on Friday, August 15, with champions Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield at 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports. The opening weekend features 10 matches, with 6 broadcast live in the UK, covering 80% of televised games via Sky’s expanded 215-match coverage. Here’s the full schedule for August 15-18, 2025:
- Friday, August 15
- Liverpool vs. Bournemouth, 20:00 (Sky Sports)
- Saturday, August 16
- Aston Villa vs. Newcastle, 12:30 (TNT Sports)
- Brighton vs. Fulham, 15:00
- Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford, 15:00
- Sunderland vs. West Ham, 15:00
- Tottenham vs. Burnley, 15:00
- Wolves vs. Manchester City, 17:30 (Sky Sports)
- Sunday, August 17
- Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace, 14:00 (Sky Sports)
- Manchester United vs. Arsenal, 16:30 (Sky Sports)
- Monday, August 18
- Leeds vs. Everton, 20:00 (Sky Sports)
Key Early Challenges
- Manchester United: United, under Ruben Amorim, face a tough start, hosting Arsenal on August 17, followed by Fulham (away), Burnley (home), Manchester City (away, September 13), and Chelsea (home, September 20). After a 15th-place finish in 2024/25, Amorim’s side, bolstered by Matheus Cunha and eyeing Viktor Gyökeres, aim to rebound.
- Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, seeking to end three consecutive second-place finishes, have a daunting opening run: Manchester United (away), Leeds (home), Liverpool (away, August 30), Nottingham Forest (home), Manchester City (home, September 20), and Newcastle (away, September 27). Arsenal’s pursuit of Martin Zubimendi and Benjamin Sesko signals intent.
- Liverpool: Champions Liverpool, led by Arne Slot, start against Bournemouth, followed by Newcastle (away), Arsenal (home), Burnley (away), and Everton (home, September 20). With Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz joining, the Reds aim for a third title in six years.
- Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s revamped City, after a trophyless 2024/25, begin at Wolves, followed by Tottenham (home), Brighton (away), United (home), and Arsenal (away). New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri fuel their title hopes.
- Chelsea: Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea face Crystal Palace, West Ham (away), Fulham (home), Brentford (away), and United (away). After a fourth-place finish, their young squad, eyeing Hugo Ekitike, targets consistency.
- Crystal Palace: FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, set for Europa League, visit Chelsea, followed by Nottingham Forest (home), Aston Villa (away), and Sunderland (home). Their appeal over UEFA multi-club ownership rules adds intrigue.
- Leeds United: Promoted Leeds, under Daniel Farke, host Everton, then face Arsenal (away), Newcastle (home), Fulham (away), and Wolves (away). Their first Premier League match since May 2023 marks a return after two years.
Season Overview
The 2025/26 season, running from August 15, 2025, to May 24, 2026, features 33 weekend rounds and 5 midweek rounds, with no Boxing Day fixtures (games start December 27) and a 60-hour gap between festive matches to ensure player welfare. Nine clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, compete in Europe, increasing the likelihood of fixture changes if they advance. Semi-automated offside technology, introduced in April 2025, will be fully implemented, and Puma replaces Nike as the match ball supplier.
Broadcast and Fan Information
Sky Sports will broadcast 215 matches, up from 128, covering 80% of televised games, with TNT Sports airing 52. Fans can access fixtures via premierleague.com, sync to digital calendars, or follow teams on the BBC Sport app for notifications. Fixture dates may shift with six weeks’ notice pre-January and five weeks after, due to European commitments.
What’s Next?
The opening weekend sets the tone, with United vs. Arsenal as the marquee clash. Liverpool’s title defense, Arsenal’s tough start, and promoted sides Leeds, Burnley, and Sunderland’s survival bids will dominate early narratives. Pre-season friendlies, like United’s U.S. Summer Series (July 26-August 3), offer preparation, while the Community Shield (Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace, August 10) precedes the season. Fans are buzzing with anticipation for 215 Sky broadcasts fueling excitement.
