Manchester United to host Arsenal as blockbuster 2025/26 Premier League opening weekend revealed

The Premier League fixtures are out and it’s a bumper opening weekend in August. Manchester United vs Arsenal is the standout fixture – as the famous rivals do battle at Old Trafford on August 17th at 4.30pm. Liverpool begin their title defence with a game against Bournemouth on Friday night at AnfieldGetty The opening match of the 2025/26 campaign takes place at Anfield as Liverpool, who won the title at a canter last season, begin their defence by welcoming Bournemouth on August 15th at 8pm. As for the newly-promoted sides, Sunderland will host West Ham, Burnley visit Europa League winners Tottenham and Leeds are at home against Everton. Black Cats fans will witness Premier League football at the Stadium of Light for the first time in eight years. For Tottenham, new manager Thomas Frank will come up against a former Spurs captain in Scott Parker, who guided Burnley to second in the Championship on 100 points. United, despite their struggles last season, are usually strong starters on opening day, which is bad news for Arsenal. The Red Devils have won the most opening-day matches in top-flight history, with 22 victories – a 66.7 per cent success rate – losing only seven of their week-one games. The omens are not good for Bournemouth, either, given that the champions rarely lose on the first day. Only once in the last seven seasons have the reigning champions failed to win – when Man City lost 1-0 to Tottenham in 2021. However, City boss Pep Guardiola still has the best success rate with eight wins from nine openers. City have already spent £116million this summer in a bid to improve on their third-place finish last term. Premier League 2025/26 season fixtures in full: Every match for all 20 teams The 2025/26 opening weekend fixtures 15/08/2025 20:00: Liverpool v A.F.C. Bournemouth – live on talkSPORT 16/08/2025 12:30: Aston Villa v Newcastle United – live on talkSPORT 16/08/2025 15:00: Brighton v Fulham 16/08/2025 15:00: Nottingham Forest v Brentford 16/08/2025 15:00: Sunderland v West Ham United 16/08/2025 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley 16/08/2025 17:30: Wolverhampton v Manchester City 17/08/2025 14:00: Chelsea v Crystal Palace 17/08/2025 16:30: Manchester United v Arsenal 18/08/2025 20:00: Leeds United v Everton – live on talkSPORT The race for the title is expected to be closer this season, with the big clubs already strengthening their squads in the transfer window Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki are among the big-money arrivals at the Etihad. Liverpool have also splashed the cash – agreeing a British record £116.5m deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen along with a £40m deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. It follows the arrival of right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold in a £29.5m transfer. Chelsea, who secured Champions League football with a fourth-place finish last season, beat Newcastle, Man United and Everton to a cut-price deal for Liam Delap, who joined the Blues from Ipswich for £30m. Highly-rated Brazilian forward Estevao Willian has also signed from Palmeiras in a £56m deal that was agreed in 2024. Arsenal are yet to announce any significant signings as they bid to improve on another runner-up finish – although Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga are expected to be announced soon. Liverpool stormed to victory, with Arsenal ten points behind them in second, while Tottenham and Man United had poor league seasons The Gunners are also linked with a move for two of Europe’s top strikers – Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. Meanwhile, Leeds legend Eddie Gray joined talkSPORT immediately after the fixture release to react to his former side starting the season with games against Everton, Arsenal and Newcastle. “Wherever you’re playing in the Premier League, coming up from the Championship, it’s going to be tough,” Gray said. “But I think the club are more than capable. I think they’ll make a few signings. That will help. “Last season, we had the strongest squad in the Championship, we can call on 16 players and it doesn’t make a difference who is injured. “You need every player in the Premier League. It’s completely different. Mohamed Salah will hope to retain his Golden Boot crown “When I look at the start, you can look at all the fixtures, but it’s how the players cope with playing against better quality.” Sunderland legend Micky Gray also gave his take on Sunderland’s start as the Black Cats welcome West Ham to the Stadium of Light, before games against Burnley and Brentford. “It’s not a bad start,” Gray said. “The Sunderland supporters will be pretty happy with that. “You’ve got to give yourself a platform at the beginning of the season. Those supporters – first day of the season – it will be phenomenal. It will be electric.” Follow our Match Centre to keep up to date wit

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Manchester United to host Arsenal as blockbuster 2025/26 Premier League opening weekend revealed

The Premier League fixtures are out and it’s a bumper opening weekend in August.

Manchester United vs Arsenal is the standout fixture – as the famous rivals do battle at Old Trafford on August 17th at 4.30pm.

Liverpool begin their title defence with a game against Bournemouth on Friday night at Anfield

The opening match of the 2025/26 campaign takes place at Anfield as Liverpool, who won the title at a canter last season, begin their defence by welcoming Bournemouth on August 15th at 8pm.

As for the newly-promoted sides, Sunderland will host West Ham, Burnley visit Europa League winners Tottenham and Leeds are at home against Everton.

Black Cats fans will witness Premier League football at the Stadium of Light for the first time in eight years.

For Tottenham, new manager Thomas Frank will come up against a former Spurs captain in Scott Parker, who guided Burnley to second in the Championship on 100 points.

United, despite their struggles last season, are usually strong starters on opening day, which is bad news for Arsenal.

The Red Devils have won the most opening-day matches in top-flight history, with 22 victories – a 66.7 per cent success rate – losing only seven of their week-one games.

The omens are not good for Bournemouth, either, given that the champions rarely lose on the first day.

Only once in the last seven seasons have the reigning champions failed to win – when Man City lost 1-0 to Tottenham in 2021.

However, City boss Pep Guardiola still has the best success rate with eight wins from nine openers.

City have already spent £116million this summer in a bid to improve on their third-place finish last term.

Premier League 2025/26 season fixtures in full: Every match for all 20 teams

The 2025/26 opening weekend fixtures

15/08/2025 20:00: Liverpool v A.F.C. Bournemouth – live on talkSPORT
16/08/2025 12:30: Aston Villa v Newcastle United – live on talkSPORT
16/08/2025 15:00: Brighton v Fulham
16/08/2025 15:00: Nottingham Forest v Brentford
16/08/2025 15:00: Sunderland v West Ham United
16/08/2025 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
16/08/2025 17:30: Wolverhampton v Manchester City
17/08/2025 14:00: Chelsea v Crystal Palace
17/08/2025 16:30: Manchester United v Arsenal
18/08/2025 20:00: Leeds United v Everton – live on talkSPORT

The race for the title is expected to be closer this season, with the big clubs already strengthening their squads in the transfer window

Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki are among the big-money arrivals at the Etihad.

Liverpool have also splashed the cash – agreeing a British record £116.5m deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen along with a £40m deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

It follows the arrival of right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold in a £29.5m transfer.

Chelsea, who secured Champions League football with a fourth-place finish last season, beat Newcastle, Man United and Everton to a cut-price deal for Liam Delap, who joined the Blues from Ipswich for £30m.

Highly-rated Brazilian forward Estevao Willian has also signed from Palmeiras in a £56m deal that was agreed in 2024.

Arsenal are yet to announce any significant signings as they bid to improve on another runner-up finish – although Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga are expected to be announced soon.

Liverpool stormed to victory, with Arsenal ten points behind them in second, while Tottenham and Man United had poor league seasons

The Gunners are also linked with a move for two of Europe’s top strikers – Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.

Meanwhile, Leeds legend Eddie Gray joined talkSPORT immediately after the fixture release to react to his former side starting the season with games against Everton, Arsenal and Newcastle.

“Wherever you’re playing in the Premier League, coming up from the Championship, it’s going to be tough,” Gray said.

“But I think the club are more than capable. I think they’ll make a few signings. That will help.

“Last season, we had the strongest squad in the Championship, we can call on 16 players and it doesn’t make a difference who is injured.

“You need every player in the Premier League. It’s completely different.

Mohamed Salah will hope to retain his Golden Boot crown

“When I look at the start, you can look at all the fixtures, but it’s how the players cope with playing against better quality.”

Sunderland legend Micky Gray also gave his take on Sunderland’s start as the Black Cats welcome West Ham to the Stadium of Light, before games against Burnley and Brentford.

“It’s not a bad start,” Gray said. “The Sunderland supporters will be pretty happy with that.

“You’ve got to give yourself a platform at the beginning of the season. Those supporters – first day of the season – it will be phenomenal. It will be electric.”

Follow our Match Centre to keep up to date with your team’s fixtures and results throughout the new campaign.

Premier League Winners 2025/26

Odds Courtesy of talkSPORT BET

Liverpool – 2/1
Man City – 9/4
Arsenal – 9/4
Newcastle – 14/1
Chelsea – 16/1
Man Utd – 33/1
Aston Villa – 33/1
Tottenham – 66/1

Visit talkSPORT BET to see all Premier League betting odds

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