Manchester United organizes Arsenal in the opening weekend of the Premier League, while Champions Liverpool starts the season against Bournemouth.
United starts their first full season under Ruben Amorim with the most difficult start of the season, according to Opta's Power Rankings, with the choice of the opening weekend matches on Sunday 17 August.
The Red Devils have won their opening match of the season more than any other side in the competition (22), with 2025-26 the ninth consecutive campaign they started with a home game. In the meantime, Arsenal has won five of their last six openers (L1), including each of the last three.
This is only the second time in the history of the English competition that United Arsenal organizes in their first game of the season, in which he previously defeated the Gunners 4-1 in 1989-90.
The side of Arne Slot starts their title defense by starting the season at home against the Cherries on Friday, August 15.
Liverpool did not lose their opening competition in one of the last 12 seasons (W9 D3), since a loss of 3-0 at West Brom in 2012-13. It is the longest current run without defeat on MD1 of a Premier League side.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United, two of the challengers for last season's Champions League spots, will then follow in the early kick-off on Saturday.
This is the second time in the last three seasons that Villa and Newcastle met in their opening competition match of the season, with the Magpies who win 5-1 in St James' Park in 2023-24.
Announcing 2025/26 Premier League lamatures
– Premier League (@premierleague) June 18, 2025
Sunderland's first Premier League match Since the 2016-17 season, will be at home against West Ham, while Burnley will travel to Europa League winners, Tottenham, for the first league match of Thomas Frank.
Brighton -guestheer Fulham, while Brentford, who are still looking for their new head coach, also goes to Nottingham Forest on Saturday 17 August, before Manchester City would return to the disappointment of last season at Wolves.
Of the current 20 Premier League parties, Brentford is the only side that never lost their opening match of the season in the competition (W2 D2).
Man City has won their opening competition in 13 of the last 14 seasons, with the exception of a 1-0 loss in Tottenham in 2021-22. Wolves have since lost their last four season openers.
The other Sunday competition sees Chelsea, Conference League Champions, Welcome FA Cup winners Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea is unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League matches against Crystal Palace (W13 D2), their longest active run against one of the 19 other parties involved in the 2025-26 season.
The winners of last season's championship, Leeds United, Welcome Everton of Elland Road on August 18 to complete the first day of competition, with the Daniel Farke team the most difficult start between the promoted parties.
Everton will have to wait until the second round of luminaires for their first game in the Hill Dickinson Stadium, when they are confronted with Brighton.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: easiest and most difficult start
The Premier League fixtures of 2025-26 have just been released, so we looked at the schedule to analyze which teams have the easiest and most difficult start of the new season.
Good luck Ruben Amorim …
– Opta Analyst (@Optaanalyst) June 18, 2025
According to the Power rangers, Man Utd has the most difficult start of the Premier League season, also opposite Man City Weg and Chelsea at home in the first five games.
Opening weekend opponents, Arsenal, are second in that ranking, with Liverpool gone in the third weekend before City at home two weeks later.
Villa has the easiest start, despite the fact that the Champions League qualifications Newcastle are confronted during the opening weekend.
Later in the season, Liverpool opposes Chelsea Away and Man Utd on either side of the October international break, before he travels to Man City at the beginning of November.
Frank's first taste of the North London derby comes immediately after the international break of November, while the first Tyne-Wear is in the Stadium of Light in mid-December.
The season will close on 24 May, with the most striking choice as a man City against Villa, who also faced each other on the last day in 2021-22, with the side of Pep Guardiola from behind to close the title.