With the 2025/26 Premier League campaign now just a matter of days away, all of England’s elite will be putting together their final preparations.
Watching clubs from up and down the country already break the bank during the summer transfer window, we look set for what is another rollercoaster year of Premier League action.
With the new campaign officially getting underway when reigning champions Liverpool welcome Bournemouth to Anfield on August 15th, all of the Premier League’s heavy hitters will be looking to come flying out of the traps.
As the likes of Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace booked their own respective iconic European tickets last season, some new dark horse contenders will be looking to upset the Premier League hierarchy.
In what promises to be another season of controversy, drama and pulsating action, we have taken an in-depth look at some of the biggest talking points before things get underway in under a fortnights time.
What are the opening round of Premier League fixtures?
Breezing their way to Premier League success last season, Liverpool will be handed the honour of opening proceedings this time around when they welcome potential European dreamers Bournemouth to the red half of Merseyside.
While all of the three top-flight returners might be looking to get some early points on the board, it is certainly Arsenal’s trip to bitter historic rivals Manchester United that will steal plenty of the opening weekend’s attention.
With the first 10 Premier League showdowns spread over the space of four days, here is a full breakdown of the opening round of Premier League fixtures:
Friday, August 15th
- 20:00 Liverpool vs Bournemouth (Anfield)
Saturday, August 16th
- 12:30pm Aston Villa vs Newcastle United (Villa Park)
- 15:00 Brighton vs Fulham (American Express Stadium)
- 15:00 Sunderland vs West Ham (Stadium of Light)
- 15:00 Tottenham vs Burnley (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
- 17:30 Wolves vs Manchester City (Molineux)
Sunday, August 17th
- 14:00 Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (Stamford Bridge)
- 14:00 Nottingham Forest vs Brentford (The City Ground)
- 16:30 Manchester United vs Arsenal (Old Trafford)
Monday, August 18th
- 20:00 Leeds United vs Everton (Elland Road)
Another year of Liverpool dominance?
While Arne Slot might have only arrived at Anfield last summer following Jurgen Klopp’s emotional departure, few would have expected Liverpool’s meteoric rise under the Dutch tactician.
Although the Reds might have eventually fallen short in the race to complete what would have been an iconic quadruple-winning campaign, they did breeze their way into the history books and largely didn’t need to get out of third gear.
Eventually finishing the 2024/25 campaign holding a commanding 10-point buffer over Arsenal, Liverpool cruised their way to a record-breaking 20th domestic crown and they certainly underlined their status as England’s ultimate poster boy.
Embarking on what has been a remarkable summer transfer window behind the scenes at Anfield, Slot’s defending champions open up proceedings this month with a fearsome reputation.
With it no secret that the former Feyenoord boss has his full attention focused on guiding Liverpool to consecutive domestic crowns for the first time since 1984, it is no surprise that the Reds are almost universally regarded as the standout title contender this time around.
Watching both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk put pen to paper on respective new deals at Anfield, Slot’s heavyweight new arrivals will also add a new dimension to a Liverpool squad who are looking to get a real dynasty underway.
Could Chelsea or Arsenal spring an upset?
While Manchester City might be desperate to reestablish themselves as one of the standout candidates to recapture their Premier League crown, it appears that Liverpool’s two biggest threats might be in the English capital.
Eventually finishing double digits behind the defending champions last season and signing off the 2024/25 campaign without a single piece of silverware to show for their troubles, both Arsenal and Mikel Arteta know that they have a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders this time around.
Finally bringing in a world class number nine following Viktor Gyokeres long-awaited arrival in north London last month, the Gunners are hoping that the Swedish marksman is the man to fire them to a first Premier League title since way back in 2004.
Although Arsenal might have almost single-handedly been Liverpool’s main title foe for large spells of last season, Chelsea have emerged from a sensational summer run and Enzo Maresca’s camp could be considered as a real dark horse contender.
Springing a major upset over the United States as they were crowned Club World Cup champions thanks to an iconic 3-0 win against PSG on July 13th, the reigning Europa Conference League winners have embarked on quite the silverware sweep over the past few months.
How are the early Premier League title odds looking?
Watching Liverpool claim their 20th domestic trophy with almost a month of the 2024/25 campaign still yet to be played, neutrals will be hoping for a far more enthralling title battle this time around.
However, with it suggested that over 40% of fans from across the country have already backed Liverpool to officially defend their Premier League crown this season, Slot’s camp also find themselves regarded as a landslide title contender with the bookmakers before a ball has even been kicked.
Although Manchester City might have a real battle on their hands in the race to make up some ground on both Arsenal and the defending champions, it is the usual suspects who are leading the
Here’s a look at the leading five Premier League title candidates for the 2025/26 campaign:
- Liverpool – 9/5
- Arsenal – 5/2
- Manchester City – 7/2
- Chelsea – 10/1
- Manchester United – 33/1
Who have been the Premier League’s most executive new recruits?
While Manchester United might be inching towards what would be a blockbuster move from RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, plenty of the Premier League’s elite have shattered a string of financial records.
Although Liverpool might have watched the likes of Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold complete respective moves away from Anfield this summer, Slot’s side have remarkably spent over £250million on new arrivals.
With the quartet of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City already spending more than any other clubs from across the globe, here are the Premier League’s #10 most expensive new recruits
1. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool) – £116million
2. Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool) – £79million
3. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford to Manchester United) – £71million
4. Matheus Cunha (Wolves to Manchester United) – £62.5million
5. Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad to Arsenal) – £60million
6. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal) – £63million
7. Joao Pedro (Brighton to Chelsea) – £60million
8. Mohamed Kudus (West Ham to Tottenham) – £55million
9. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest to Newcastle) – £55million
10. Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea) – £52million
What are the big managerial headlines?
Although Ange Postecoglou might have guided Tottenham to Europa League success back in May and ended Spurs’ 17-year wait for a piece of silverware, that famous night in Bilbao was nit enough to save the Australian tactician from the chop in north London.
With Thomas Frank almost immediately brought through the doors as Postecoglou’s permeant replacement, the former Brentford boss will know that domestic stability is his key priority this season.
Watching influential skipper Son Heung-min end his decade spell in the English capital this week after completing a move to MLS outfit Los Angeles, Frank is getting a new era underway and will have a tremendous amount of pressure on his shoulders.
Likewise, breaking a string of unwanted records last season and remarkably spending the whole of the 2024/25 campaign scrapping it out at the foot of the Premier League table, Ruben Amorim still remains firmly under the microscope.
Although the Old Trafford hierarchy might have made the decision to stick with the ex-Sporting Lisbon boss and make their man heavily this summer, Amorim is still yet to win over large sections of the United support and the opening month of the new campaign will certainly prove to be critical for his long-term future.
Who could be the potential relegation candidates?
With the three promoted Championship teams immediately relegated back to the second-tier over both of the past two seasons, it appears the gap between England’s top two domestic leagues has never been further apart.
However, although the Premier League’s latest new arrivals might have a real uphill battle on their hands this season, both Sunderland and Leeds have really splashed the cash and are demonstrating that they will not sacrifice their top-flight status without a fight.
While fellow top-flight returners Burnley might currently find themselves pencilled in as an overwhelming relegation favourite this season, a couple of Premier League regulars will be fearing for the worst.
Watching Frank make the move to Spurs back in June, Brentford are certainly one club who have endured major turmoil behind the scenes in west London this summer.
With Mbeumo completing a big-money move to Manchester United last month and fellow attacking talisman Yoane Wissa making it abundantly clear he wants to force a move away, inexperienced new boss Keith Andrews also watched skipper Christian Norgaard jump ship to Arsenal.
