June 18, (THEWILL) – Liverpool will begin their title defence of the 2025/2026 English Premier League season with a Friday night fixture against AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15. Arne Slot’s side will kick off under the lights, marking the start of what promises to be another competitive campaign. The Merseyside club enters the new season as defending champions, having claimed their first EPL title since 2020 under Slot’s management.
The opening weekend features several intriguing matchups, with Manchester City travelling to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s programme includes a blockbuster clash between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, whilst newly promoted Leeds United return to the top flight with a Monday night home fixture against Everton. The weekend’s fixtures also see Aston Villa host Newcastle United in a repeat of last season’s UEFA Champions League qualification battle.
Several notable derbies and rivalries are scheduled throughout the campaign, with Liverpool facing Arsenal during the third week of the season. The first Manchester derby takes place on September 13 when City welcome United to the Etihad Stadium. Liverpool’s Merseyside derby against Everton is set for September 20 at Anfield, with the return fixture scheduled for April at Everton’s new stadium.
The festive period will test all contenders with matches on both 27 and 30 December, whilst the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham is pencilled in for November 22 at the Emirates Stadium. Sunderland, who earned promotion through the Championship play-offs, will face their first Tyne-Wear derby since returning to the top flight when they host Newcastle on December 13.
The season concludes on May 24, 2026, with all 10 fixtures kicking off simultaneously. Liverpool will host Brentford at Anfield, City take on Aston Villa, and Arsenal travel across London to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The compressed schedule includes midweek fixtures in December and February, with broadcast selections and kick-off times subject to change throughout the campaign.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
