Manchester City will once again kick off their Premier League campaign away from home as they visit Wolves on the opening day of next season.
The fixtures supercomputer has determined that the Blues will once again start the season on their travels for the ninth consecutive season. However, this season, City will end their campaign at home, once again to Aston Villa, reminiscent of the 21/22 season when the Blues came from 2-0 down on the final day to win 3-2 and clinch the Premier League title.
City’s first home game will see Spurs visit the Etihad Stadium and the first derby is early this year, with Manchester United making the short journey to Manchester on 13th September in City’s second home match. It’s a tough five opening fixtures for the Blues, who also travel to Brighton and Arsenal before the end of September.
The Top Teams
In addition to United and Arsenal visiting the Blues, City also welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium on 8th November and host Chelsea in the first match of 2026. However, it does mean that in the business end of the season, the Blues will face visits to all but one if they are to reclaim the title.
The Blues venture out of Manchester to face United at Old Trafford on 13th January, then face their annual defeat at Anfield on 7th February. City travel to Stamford Bridge in April, then welcome Arsenal a week later.
The Title Run-In
If the Blues are in the hunt for the Premier League title, the last five fixtures have been reasonably kind. The Blues visit Everton and Bournemouth, and welcome Brentford in between, before finishing their campaign at home to Villa.
City have a history of performing well towards the end of the season and, while these fixtures could have been better, they could have been much worse.
The Promoted Teams
City’s first encounter with the promoted sides comes at the end of September when Burnley arrive at the Etihad Stadium. At the end of November, then welcome Leeds United to the good side of Manchester and December sees two clashes against Sunderland.
The Black Cats arrive at the Etihad on 6th December before the return clash at the Stadium of Light takes place three weeks later and is the final match of 2025.
Always Seem to Start Away
For some reason, City have started away from home in every season since the title-winning season of the 2017/18 campaign when they won 2-0 at Brighton. The 2016/17 season, Pep’s first at the club, was the last time City kicked off their Premier League season with a home match.
The two seasons prior both started away and their other home start saw Newcastle taken apart as the Blues won 4-0. They started at home as champions in the 2012/13 campaign and also the previous season, when they beat Swansea 4-0, a memorable night for the new hero, Sergio Aguero, who scored two and made one assist.
Prior to that, City had just three home starts, winning one and drawing two. That means since the turn of the century, City have started their season with a home match in eight matches in 25 years!