Premier League Giants Face Brutal Opening Fixtures in 2025-26 Season
The complete fixture schedule for the 2025–26 Premier League campaign has been released, leaving supporters from all 20 clubs eagerly examining the calendar to identify the crucial moments that will define their upcoming seasons.
Securing a strong beginning is nearly essential for any team's prospects of reaching their objectives, whether pursuing championship glory, securing Champions League spots, or simply staying clear of relegation battles. Regrettably, several clubs face genuine challenges as they begin their new campaigns.
Below are seven teams that won't be enthusiastic about their opening sequence of matches.
Bournemouth
Starting the campaign against the title holders is far from perfect, especially away from home.
Following their opening day journey to Anfield against Liverpool, Bournemouth faces a challenging sequence. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur complete August's schedule for the Cherries.
September brings encounters with Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and Leeds United, suggesting Bournemouth's realistic ambitions will become clear after these initial six matches.
Man City
Manchester City faces three members of the traditional 'Big Six' within their opening six fixtures, leaving Pep Guardiola's reconstruction project with no room for a sluggish beginning.
Wolverhampton Wanderers awaits on the first day, followed by City providing the initial major challenge of Thomas Frank's tenure at Tottenham Hotspur. Brighton completes August's fixtures.
September could prove demanding for City, hosting the season's first Manchester derby against Manchester United just seven days before a crucial encounter with long-standing adversaries Arsenal. While it's premature to label these championship-defining matches, Guardiola won't want to find himself chasing the pack once more.
Newcastle
Having proven themselves as legitimate top-four candidates in recent campaigns, Newcastle United gets an early opportunity to demonstrate their quality in the 2025–26 season.
Fellow aspirants Aston Villa begin their fixture schedule, with champions Liverpool following, meaning Eddie Howe's squad must enter the new season at peak readiness. Even newly-promoted Leeds United could present complications in August's concluding match.
Wolves and Bournemouth offer winnable encounters, but Newcastle concludes September facing Arsenal.
Brentford
Thomas Frank's departure may be accompanied by at least one star player's exit, but Brentford won't have time to adjust to their new chapter given their demanding start to the 2025–26 season.
The Bees' opening two encounters feature Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, both clubs competing for Champions League places. Sunderland presents an intriguing wildcard at this level, though September and October's challenges are undeniable.
A west London journey includes clashes with Chelsea and Fulham, followed by Manchester giants United and City visiting the Gtech Community Stadium.
Burnley
Burnley's Premier League return appears set to be a difficult one.
A revitalized Tottenham Hotspur awaits on opening day, followed by a vital clash with fellow newcomers Sunderland. Both teams understand they're competing to avoid relegation struggles, promising an intensely contested match.
Victory there could prove vital for the Clarets as their subsequent four adversaries will all expect to win. Manchester United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa could easily extend Burnley's challenging beginning into October.
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim received considerable patience last season—despite facing substantial criticism—but the Manchester United manager won't receive similar understanding if improvements don't come quickly this campaign.
Sadly, the 2025–26 season won't begin gently, with Arsenal preparing to launch their campaign at Old Trafford. August's remainder appears manageable, with Fulham and Burnley representing achievable victories, though September and October present significant challenges.
The opening Manchester derby at the Etihad begins September, followed by encounters with Chelsea and Brentford, plus the intimidating prospect of visiting Anfield against Liverpool in mid-October. If United seeks to establish positive momentum early, they'll need to work for it.
Arsenal
Arguably the most demanding opening fixture sequence this season awaits Arsenal, who encounter four of last campaign's top seven teams in their initial six matches.
Making matters more challenging, Arsenal begins against a Manchester United team eager to rediscover their excellence following a thoroughly disappointing season. Given last year's performances, Arsenal should feel confident, yet this represents a match that could swing either direction.
Newly-promoted Leeds United won't be easy opponents, but then the real challenges commence. Arsenal concludes August visiting Anfield against Liverpool before starting a difficult September sequence against Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle United—three sides all capable of matching anyone when performing at their peak.