Premier League 26/27 season will start a week later due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to fixtures released on Friday June 19 at 10am.
Arsenal will kick off their title defence at home to Championship winners Coventry on Friday August 21 – one of SIX games live on Sky Sports across the opening round of Premier League fixtures.
The curtain-raiser will see Mikel Arteta’s Gunners – fresh from celebrating their first title triumph in 22 years – play host to Frank Lampard’s Championship winners in an 8pm kick-off at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal then face tricky tests at Aston Villa and home to Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea in their next two fixtures.
There will be six Premier League games across the opening round, including Andoni Iraola’s first match in charge of Liverpool.
The Reds go to Newcastle on Sunday August 23 in a 4.30pm kick-off.
Liverpool will then have Man City and Arsenal showdowns in October before taking on rivals Manchester United and Everton back-to-back in November
London derbies Brentford vs Spurs (Saturday August 22, 5.30pm) and Fulham vs Chelsea (Monday August 24, 8pm) are also among the highlights of the opening round of fixtures.
Spurs fans – who have seen their side finish 17th in the past two seasons – will also have a hard end to the campaign in the back of their minds.
Their final five matches include a trip to Arsenal (May 1), home games against Chelsea (May 8) and Manchester United (May 23), with their final match of the season at Aston Villa on May 30.
Man City’s new era without Pep Guardiola begins at the Etihad Stadium against Bournemouth at 2pm on Sunday August 23. However, their first meetings with last season’s top five are all away from home.
Championship play-off winners, Hull City, will welcome Manchester United to the MKM Stadium on their Premier League return at 12.30pm on Saturday August 22, while fellow promoted side, Ipswich, begin at Portman Road with Sunderland at 3pm.
Everton vs Conference League winners Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest vs Leeds are scheduled as 3pm kick-offs on Saturday August 22, with Brighton vs Europa League holders Aston Villa on Sunday August 23 at 2pm.
