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Due to the number of teams playing in Europe, fans have been given a warning by the Premier League that matches may be moved “relatively quickly” next year.
In the 2025-26 season, a record nine top-flight organizations qualified for Uefa competitions.
Fans should take this into account when planning their attendance to games, according to the Premier League, which stated there is an “increased likelihood” that games will be rescheduled if English teams advance to the latter stages.
Next year, the Champions League will feature players from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham.
While the Premier League is appreciative of this accomplishment, the Premier League’s statement read, “While it will come with an impact on the scheduling of league games.”
If our clubs advance to the knockout rounds of these competitions, there is a greater chance of Premier League games moving on relatively short notice, according to the statement.
The Premier League made the fixture list for the 2025-26 season’s schedule announcement on Wednesday.
On Friday, August 15, Liverpool, who won the league in Arne Slot’s first year in charge, will kick off their title defense at Anfield.
Sunderland, who have been newly promoted and are now back in the top flight for the first time since 2016-17, face West Ham at home the following day.
Everton, the champions of the championship, travels to Elland Road for the Monday night game, while Burnley, who was first promoted to the top flight after asking, travels to Europa League champions Tottenham, who will be led by Thomas Frank for the first time in a league game.
Fans of Everton will have to wait until the second round of fixtures before watching them face Brighton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
With a strong debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will hope to resurrect their infamous trophyless season.
The 380 games that will be played over 33 weekends and five midweek rounds will come to an end on May 24.
The Premier League stated that the maximum player rest time is allowed at the start of the 2024-2019 season, which will be 82 days after the 15 August launch.
Clubs will not be required to play twice in less than 48 hours during the holiday season.
Depending on the live broadcast selection, some games may be moved to Boxing Day even though there are no games listed for December 26.
Some clubs will be without players for six Premier League matchweeks due to Morocco’s 21 December to 18 January, which will result in the African Cup of Nations.
The US, Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup just 18 days after the season is over.
Premier League full coverage of the week’s opening games
All times BST
Friday, August 15
Liverpool v Bournemouth (20: 00)
On August 16th,
Aston Villa v Newcastle (12: 30)
Brighton v Fulham (15: 00)
Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest (15:00)
Sunderland v West Ham (15: 00)
Tottenham v Burnley (15: 00)
Manchester City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (17: 30)
Sunday, August 17
Chelsea v Crystal Palace (14: 00)
Arsenal vs. Manchester United (16:30)
18 August, Monday,
Man Utd’s season opener is the trickiest.

The first five games for each team are difficult, according to data from Opta.
Manchester United have the toughest start, according to their “power rankings” data, where they have lost three of the top four of the previous season in their first five games.
With games against holders Liverpool and Manchester City, who have already won the previous four titles, Arsenal are expected to have the next toughest start, as they look to strengthen their three consecutive second-place finishes.
Despite facing Champions League opponents Newcastle in their opening game, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are said to have had the simplest start to the campaign.
Important things to watch out for are “The Devil is in the Details” and
Sometimes, the devil can be found in a set of fixtures in the details.
How will England’s Thomas Tuchel react if he discovers Liverpool must play Arsenal at home, Chelsea away, and then Old Trafford rival Manchester City away from home just before the September, October, and November international window openings?
With nine teams in Europe and six in the Champions League, the Premier League confirmed in their fixtures announcement that “there is an increased likelihood of Premier League fixtures moving at relatively short notice, after our fixture announcements, if our clubs progress to the knockout rounds of these competitions.”
Before that, there may need to be some juggling when the first expanded lot of TV fixtures are released, either later this month or early in July, so no one will be aware that any of England’s Champions League representatives will be playing on a Tuesday and cannot therefore take the coveted Sunday TV slot from the previous weekend.
After five of their first six Champions League matches, Manchester City will play at home, which can irritate managers after a protracted midweek away trip. Instead, they will face four away games right away.
Chelsea has five away games before those first ten Champions League games, which can be grating for managers after a protracted midweek break (basically managers moan), but they do have five at home.
Manchester United’s form from the previous season might not be as good as it once was, but they will face Manchester United in the one weekend between matchdays seven and eight, so manager Mikel Arteta may hope that his team’s fate will be in the league by then.
Given that their matchday five European opponents will fall between a north London derby with Tottenham and a similarly high-energy trip to Chelsea, Arteta will likely be interested in finding out who they face on Tuesday.
Although the late kick-off will be what will really cause a stir, Newcastle and Manchester City will travel to Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, respectively, in the 27 December fixtures.
Given that lengthy trips for Burnley, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Brentford, and Chelsea have been confirmed, the Premier League’s holiday season is well and truly over by January 3.
After their incredible Europa League victory over his old club Lyon, Manchester City new boy Rayan Cherki will not have to wait long for a chance to carry out his stated desire to “kill” Manchester United. On September 13, Ruben Amorim’s side travels to the Etihad Stadium.
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