Premier League news: 2025/26 season – Man Utd v Arsenal and the biggest clashes of Matchday 1
The 2025/26 season of the English Premier League is set to kick off in mid-August, promising yet another enthralling campaign of world-class football.
On an action-packed opening weekend, Liverpool host Bournemouth, Newcastle United travel to Aston Villa, Wolves clash with Manchester City, Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace, and Manchester United face off against Arsenal.
Competition is tighter than ever at both ends of the table – and in the middle – so there is little margin for error as the members of the world’s richest and most-followed football league begin their quest for glory, survival, and everything in between.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Michael Davey takes a look at the three biggest games of matchday 1 and offers a full rundown of fixtures.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth – Friday 15 August, Anfield
Arne Slot’s defending champions open their campaign at home to plucky Bournemouth in an exciting Friday-night Premier League curtain-raiser.
Liverpool were far and away the best team in England last time out and have been made even more fearsome by the big-money signings of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong despite the loss of local lad Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.
Mohamed Salah and co. will thus be raring to go as they attempt to defend a league title for the first time since 1984, with the Reds already installed as early favourites for the crown by many.
Andoni Iraola’s side, meanwhile, finished ninth in the table last season, but the Cherries should put up a good fight at Anfield, even if it is unlikely to yield much against their elite hosts.
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Aston Villa vs Newcastle Utd – Saturday 16 August, Villa Park
Villa’s quest for Champions League football ended in heartbreak on the final day of the 2024/25 season after an abject performance and some controversial refereeing denied them the necessary points at Old Trafford.
In a twist of fate, they begin their next go-around hosting the team that pipped them to fifth spot and the financial rewards of top-tier continental football: Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.
As a result, Unai Emery and his charges are sure to come out guns blazing at Villa Park in an effort to lay down a marker, setting the stage for a cracking contest.
On the other hand, the fast-improving Magpies are still feeling the delight of ending a 56-year trophy drought with League Cup glory back in March and will no doubt prove a handful.
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Manchester Utd vs Arsenal – Sunday 17 August, Old Trafford
The Red Devils endured their worst season in decades last term, finishing in a scarcely believable 15th place and losing the Europa League final to a Tottenham side that hadn’t won anything in 17 years and finished a shameful 17th in the league.
Ruben Amorim has managed to hold onto his job for now, but the former Sporting Lisbon tactician can only drop a polished turd on the Old Trafford grass so many times before he joins the well-populated graveyard of United managers past.
The club do at least seem to be making the right moves in the transfer market, signing maverick forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves and pursuing Brentford’s in-demand winger Bryan Mbeumo amongst others, so there might be hope yet for a trashed brand and its zombified fan base.
It is all to play for on the opening weekend, then, when United host Mikel Arteta’s talented Gunners, who are two-time defending runners-up in this competition and desperate to get their hands on some major silverware along with the recognition it brings.
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Matchday 1 fixture list
Friday 15 August
Liverpool vs Bournemouth (8pm BST)
Saturday 16 August
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United (12.30pm BST)
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham (3pm BST)
Nottingham Forest vs Brentford (3pm BST)
Sunderland vs West Ham United (3pm BST)
Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley (3pm BST)
Wolves vs Manchester City (5.30pm BST)
Sunday 17 August
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (2pm BST)
Manchester United vs Arsenal (4.30pm BST)
Monday 18 August
Leeds United vs Everton (8pm BST)
MORE FROM MICHAEL DAVEY: Man Utd news: Red Devils complete signing of maverick forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves
