The Premier League fixtures have been announced and Leeds United’s list of 38 games includes plenty of little sub-plots ahead of the club’s return to England’s top flight.
On Wednesday morning, the Premier League announced the 2025-26 schedule. Leeds begin their fight to stay in the Premier League with a Monday night clash against Everton at home, deemed a winnable game.
Indeed, it sees Angus Kinnear return to Leeds at the very first opportunity. Kinnear and Nick Hammond have left Leeds this summer to join David Moyes’ side, who have changed owners to the tune of £400m.
Leeds will face Manchester United on January 3, incredibly a re-run of the 2010 FA Cup giant-killing that continues to be sung about among the Elland Road terraces. December sees Leeds face Liverpool twice.
Michael Bridges likes what he sees as PL fixtures announced
The first 10 games sees Leeds also take on Arsenal and Newcastle, but then a run of games against Fulham, Wolves, Bournemouth, Tottenham, Burnley, West Ham and Brighton, going into November.
Leeds fans think December will be the hardest month, given the two games against Liverpool while also facing Chelsea and Brentford away. But Michael Bridges is confident about Leeds’ first 10 matches.
He told LUTV this week that he thinks Leeds have got lucky with their opening 10 Premier League games ahead of 2025-26: “As a player, I’d always look at the first 10 matches. It’s all about the first 10 games.
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“Arsenal second, Newcastle third. But there are only two of last season’s top six in our first 10 games. If you want points on the board, I think we’ve been very, very lucky. The fixture list as a whole, really like it.”
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The three must-win matches for Leeds United next season
There is no doubt that November and December look tricky for Leeds. Three away games against Brighton, Forest and Man City as well as Aston Villa at home in November, followed by December.
That run spills into January with Man United at home on January 3 and then a trip to Newcastle. But the game after that, is Fulham at home. After what is likely to be a poor run, Leeds need to beat Fulham.
In the midst of such a difficult month in December, Leeds also go to Sunderland on December 27. A game that can see Leeds secure a win amongst such a tough run of games, before Burnley at home on May 2.
If Leeds are still capable of survival by that point, the chances are that they will be in and around the fight against the drop – and so will Burnley. The Clarets at home will be an enormous fixture for Leeds.