Premier League's Top Six Face Their Toughest and Easiest Months in 2025-26 Season
The Premier League campaign stretches across many months, filled with highs, lows and the intense feelings that accompany these contrasting moments.
Now that the complete fixture schedule for the 2025–26 season has been unveiled, supporters of every club can begin analyzing where their team might secure crucial points, with certain periods appearing full of promise while others suggest anxiety and stress ahead.
Below we examine each 'big six' team's most favorable and challenging months in the upcoming calendar.
Arsenal
Best
Arsenal possess several periods that appear promising when examined closely. October, December and March all contain numerous manageable fixtures, though their favorable conclusion in May represents exactly what championship contenders hope for.
Facing Fulham (H), West Ham United (A), Burnley (H) and Crystal Palace (A) constitutes a sequence that should present minimal concerns for Arsenal as they aim to conclude their title pursuit in peak condition.
Worst
Regrettably for Arsenal, they will approach May following an exhausting series of matches throughout April.
While hosting Bournemouth presents its challenges, encounters with Manchester City (A) and Newcastle United (H) represent the type of contests that can determine entire seasons, particularly during such a crucial stage of the campaign.
Chelsea
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Chelsea supporters will be thrilled with their initial month of matches, as August appears to offer Enzo Maresca's squad an ideal opportunity to establish confidence and momentum for launching the new season.
Crystal Palace (H), West Ham United (A) and Fulham (H) all present difficulties, yet the Blues should enter each encounter as clear favorites, with anything short of maximum points from nine available being viewed as underwhelming.
Worst
Although Chelsea's season opener looks manageable, the Blues confront an intimidating campaign finale. Both March and April present challenging examinations against direct competitors, though May's final month could prove most demanding.
Chelsea will desire to have secured their objectives before beginning May at home against Champions League aspirants Nottingham Forest, with subsequent matches against Liverpool (A) and Tottenham Hotspur (H) potentially placing the Blues in a struggle to accumulate points before their final-day journey to Sunderland.
Liverpool
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Both September and April appear as manageable periods for Liverpool—benefiting from facing identical opponents twice across three matches in each month.
The season's second month looks particularly favorable, starting with Burnley (A) followed by the home Merseyside derby against Everton, concluding with a journey to Crystal Palace. Regarding April, both Everton and Palace feature again following a home match against Fulham.
Worst
Despite Liverpool entering this season as favorites against every adversary, they must perform at peak level when November approaches.
Hosting Aston Villa provides a challenging opening, but the subsequent away encounter against Manchester City will be highlighted prominently on the schedule. Nottingham Forest (H) and West Ham United (A) hardly represents an ideal month conclusion.
Man City
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October, March and May all appear relatively favorable for Manchester City, though following their mid-season breakdown in 2024–25, they will welcome December's busy schedule appearing filled with straightforward fixtures.
Across their six December matches, City encounter Fulham (A), Sunderland (H), Crystal Palace (A), West Ham United (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and conclude with another away trip to Sunderland. Securing 18 points represents a highly achievable target.
Worst
An uncomplicated December transitions into a demanding January for Pep Guardiola's team, who meet three 'big six' opponents across five fixtures.
Home encounters against Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers surround away journeys to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Should City not be performing optimally as 2026 begins, they will rapidly discover their shortcomings.
Man Utd
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Examining the fixture schedule, Manchester United ranks among teams not blessed with genuinely comfortable periods. Nevertheless, November and February appear encouraging and share three identical fixtures.
Both months feature matches against Everton, Crystal Palace and the challenging Tottenham Hotspur. November includes a journey to Nottingham Forest before those three opponents, while February looks marginally better due to an away fixture against West Ham United.
Worst
September presents several difficult fixtures for United, though the primary concern involves entering a challenging January sequence with players who will certainly experience physical fatigue from the intense festive period.
An away journey to Leeds United promises exhaustion for numerous reasons, and while Burnley (A) should offer respite, facing Manchester City (H), Arsenal (A) and Fulham (H) doesn't sound particularly enjoyable for a team with tired legs.
Tottenham Hotspur
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Multiple months on Tottenham Hotspur's calendar appear reasonably kind. Thomas Frank will anticipate September and October, though April distinguishes itself from the group.
The Champions League quarter-finals and semi-final first leg are scheduled for April. Should Spurs advance that far, they will appreciate navigating those matches alongside domestic fixtures against Sunderland (A), Brighton & Hove Albion (H) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (A).
Worst
The disadvantage of having multiple comfortable months means several others appear extremely worrying. November delivers matches against Chelsea (H), Manchester United (H), Arsenal (A) and Fulham (H), all distributed around Champions League league phase fixtures.
Similarly, February's sequence of Man Utd (A), Newcastle United (H), Arsenal (H) and Fulham (A) represents a period Frank will not eagerly anticipate.