The 2025/26 Premier League season is upon us, and there are plenty of changes to get caught up on as the new campaign officially gets underway.
A new season beckons and Arne Slot‘s new-look side will be determined to defend their Premier League crown and go the distance in the Champions League.
There will be plenty of twists and turns ahead, but before then, let’s take a look at what has changed in the Premier League for the 2025/26 season.
8-second goalkeeper rule
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The fundamental thing you should know from this rule change is that goalkeepers will concede a corner if they hold onto the ball for more than eight seconds.
As a result of the six-second rule, which would have led to an indirect free-kick, not being readily enforced, the new eight-second rule seeks to improve goalkeeper behaviour and reduce time wasting.
The on-field referee will signal a five-second countdown and if the goalkeeper is still in possession at the end, a corner will be awarded to the opposition side.
A third offence in a match will result in a corner and a yellow card, a second caution would be shown on the sixth offence as the warning process starts again.
Wishing you all the best, Jordan Pickford…
3 newly-promoted sides
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 10, 2024: Burnley's Nathan Tella' (L) is challenged by Liverpool's Wataru Endo during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The battle for promotion in the Championship saw Leeds and Burnley secure their place back in the top flight after both hitting the 100-point mark.
Sunderland later joined them through the play-offs, marking their first season back in the Premier League since 2016/17.
Liverpool will meet Burnley first (September 14), then Sunderland (December 3) and, finally, Leeds (December 6), with the reverse fixtures to follow later into the season.
Semi-automated offside for the full season
Premier League offside semi-automated
The Premier League introduced semi-automated offside technology for the first time in April, months after its expected introduction into the league.
It means this will be the first full season with the technology in use, which can still lead to delays, but is designed to make faster and more accurate decisions.
It is hard to think there will be a day when no one complains about offside, with or without the technology!
Only captains can approach the referee
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 28, 2024: Referee Anthony Taylor (R) and Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during the FA Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Liverpool FC at Molineux Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is a recommended rule, not a compulsory one, by IFAB (The International Football Association Board), but the Premier League are to adopt that only captains are able to approach referees during matches.
Yellow cards can be shown to players who approach officials without permission and behave disrespectfully.
If the captain is a goalkeeper, a team can provide an alternate player before kick-off.
This always feels like one of those rules that will be enforced early on but then fade as the season progresses, but time will tell!
Puma replace Nike as match ball supplier
Premier League and Puma have unveiled the official Premier League match ball for the 2025/26 season.
The launch coincides with the brand’s new partnership with the league and the start of its ‘Have a Ball’ campaign, which celebrates creative and instinctive play.#pumafootball pic.twitter.com/3AV3R0CejZ
— Football Shirt Culture (@footballshirt) June 3, 2025
Puma has replaced Nike as the official supplier of the Premier League match ball after the 25-year partnership with the American company ended this year.
The 2025/26 ball is named ‘Orbita Ultimate PL’ and it made its debut during the Premier League Summer Series in the United States this summer.
Wonder how long it will be until Mikel Arteta files a complaint.
New managers in the dugout
Regis Le Bris led Sunderland to a top-flight return after eight years away (Nick Potts/PA)
The big change over the summer was Keith Andrews stepping up to take the manager’s seat at Brentford, his first time in the Premier League hot seat.
He replaced Thomas Frank after he left for Tottenham earlier in the summer.
Regis Le Bris is another new face to the Premier League after guiding Sunderland back to the top flight in his first season at the club.
Elsewhere, Scott Parker is back in the top division with Burnley, while Daniel Farke also returns with Leeds.
Double-touch penalties
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah misses a penalty kick during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In the aftermath of Julian Alvarez’s penalty controversy, the laws were reviewed and IFAB have clarified the issue.
It has been clarified that, where a penalty taker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously or the ball touches their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick:
If a goal is scored, the kick must be retaken
If no goal is scored, an indirect free kick will be awarded
If the penalty taker makes a deliberate double touch, then they will be penalised with an indirect free kick, regardless of goal outcome
Fixtures could move at short notice
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 6, 2023: Television cameras before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. General. TV (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This is more to categorise under ‘something to keep an eye out for’, but it is worth reiterating that supporters have been warned that fixtures will be subject to change at short notice.
It is due to a record nine clubs qualifying for European competition, which could have more of a noticeable effect if the majority reach the knockout stages.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are in the Champions League this season, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are in the Europa League and Crystal Palace are in the Conference League.