Premier League fixtures: Every club’s opening game

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The Independent

·19 Juni 2026

Premier League fixtures: Every club’s opening game

The new Premier League season will begin with Arsenal launching their title defence, as they take on newly-promoted side Coventry City, while Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea reign starts with a derby to cap off the weekend.

After Mikel Arteta guided Arsenal to their first Premier League trophy in 22 years, the north London club will try to go back to back, and some fans will see their season-opener as a kind one, as they face a side who will simply be happy to avoid relegation this year.

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That said, Frank Lampard’s Coventry will take some confidence from their fine Championship campaign last term, as they topped the table by 11 points to return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years.

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Frank Lampard guided Coventry City to promotion from the Championship last season (Getty)

Also on the opening weekend, newly-promoted Hull City, who won the Championship play-off final, host Manchester United in Michael Carrick’s first game as full-time coach of the Red Devils. The match may provide some early scenes for a new Amazon documentary about Man United’s upcoming season.

The third promoted club, Ipswich Town, will host Sunderland, while title hopefuls Manchester City are at home versus Bournemouth in their first game of the post-Pep Guardiola era.

Meanwhile, Liverpool and Chelsea will venture away from home for interesting tests as they begin their bids to challenge for the title again; Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge of the Reds will play out at Newcastle United, while Alonso’s Blues make a short trip across west London to play rivals Fulham.

Elsewhere, Roberto De Zerbi will aim to pick up where he left off as Tottenham coach, with some positive results late in the season giving way to a trip to Brentford to launch their upcoming campaign.

Everton will welcome Europa Conference League champions Crystal Palace to the Hill Dickinson Stadium; Nottingham Forest and Leeds United will square off in a clash of teams who just avoided the drop last term; and Aston Villa – still buoyed by their Europa League triumph, no doubt – visit Brighton.

Friday 21 August, 8pm – Arsenal v Coventry City

Saturday 22 August, 12.30pm – Hull City v Manchester United

Saturday 22 August, 3pm – Everton v Crystal Palace