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Premier League fixtures: Liverpool host Bournemouth

Slot’s side will begin their bid for a record 21st English top-flight title

Assistant Editor

2 MIN READ

Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and teammates pose with the Premier League trophy during the presentation.

AFP

Defending champions Liverpool will open the 2025/26 Premier League season at home against Bournemouth on Friday, August 15. Meanwhile, a blockbuster clash between Arsenal and Manchester United highlights the rest of the opening weekend action.

Arne Slot’s side will look to pick up the first points of the campaign as they begin their bid for a record 21st English top-flight title. Following their opener, Liverpool face two challenging fixtures: an away trip to Newcastle and a home showdown with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, runners-up in each of the past three seasons.

Thomas Frank's reign as Tottenham manager begins on Saturday, August 16, with a home fixture against newly promoted Burnley. Another returning side, Sunderland, will mark their Premier League comeback against West Ham. The third promoted club, Leeds United, travel to Everton for a Monday night match on August 18.

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Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola, are eager to bounce back after a trophyless campaign. They begin away to Wolves at Molineux. Everton fans, meanwhile, will have to wait until the second round of matches for the debut of their new home, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where they’ll face Brighton.

Liverpool dominated the league last season, clinching a record-equalling 20th title with four matches to spare—Slot’s first year in charge. They’ve wasted no time strengthening their squad, agreeing a club-record deal worth up to £116 million ($156 million) for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. Right-back Jeremie Frimpong, also from Leverkusen, joins him. A move for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is reportedly nearing completion.

Manchester United, under new manager Ruben Amorim, face a stern test in their season opener against Arsenal on August 17. United are desperate to recover from a dismal campaign that saw them finish 15th—their lowest league placing since relegation in 1973/74—and lose the Europa League final to Tottenham. Amorim has already started a squad rebuild, including the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

The 2025/26 Premier League season will feature 380 matches played over 33 weekends and five midweek rounds. It will conclude on May 24, with one of the final fixtures seeing Manchester City host Aston Villa.

According to the Premier League, the August 15 start provides “the maximum player rest time available—83 clear days—from the end of the 2024/25 season.” This scheduling is crucial, with the next World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, kicking off on June 11, 2026.