Ruben Amorim Faces Brutal Fixture List as Manchester United's New Boss Discovers His Daunting Challenge

Manchester United's fresh start will face an immediate challenge as the 2025–26 Premier League campaign begins.

Though the 2024–25 season feels recently concluded, the Premier League unveiled the complete fixture schedule on Wednesday morning, leaving supporters worldwide anxiously awaiting the crucial matchday announcements.

Following their 15th-place finish last term—their poorest Premier League showing and worst performance since the 1973–74 relegation—Amorim aims for a new dawn.

The Portuguese manager found it difficult to establish his philosophy after his November appointment, lacking sufficient time to properly integrate his distinctive tactical approach amid the intense fixture congestion. However, he now has a complete pre-season period ahead to develop his vision.

United have been active in the transfer market, securing Matheus Cunha's signature, while continuing to pursue additional targets for squad enhancement.

Nevertheless, there will be no gentle introduction to the upcoming season.

United begin their campaign hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford during the August 17 weekend.

An away fixture at Fulham and a home encounter with newly-promoted Burnley complete August's schedule, but United's return from the September international window brings the season's opening Manchester derby against a revamped City side eager to recover from their disappointing 2024–25 campaign.

September presents significant challenges. Following the Etihad encounter, Chelsea visit Old Trafford next, before a demanding away fixture at Brentford—should United successfully acquire Bryan Mbeumo, it would mark a swift homecoming for the Cameroonian striker.

October brings United's first meeting with Sunderland since 2017, followed by the Anfield clash against Liverpool, and a home fixture versus Brighton & Hove Albion—the Seagulls have claimed victory in six of their last eight encounters across all competitions, including both Premier League meetings last season.

Early November features consecutive challenging away matches at Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

In summary, United's opening 11 league matches of 2025–26 feature all of last season's top four finishers, three additional top-half teams, and the side that heartbreakingly defeated them in the Europa League final.