Who has the hardest start? Every Premier League club’s first five fixtures in the new 2026/27 season

The 2026/27 Premier League season will kick-off when Arsenal host promoted Coventry City on Friday 21 August, followed by fellow new arrivals Hull taking on Manchester United the following lunchtime. And while it yet again turns out that all 20 teams will play each other twice across the campaign , a strong start will feel imperative for Mikel Arteta’s team as they seek to retain their title. The promoted sides will be hoping to build early momentum too to ensure the season does not become a slog and the prospect of imitating Sunderland may inspire them. On paper Arsenal have a tricky start with their meeting against Frank Lampard’s side followed swiftly by a trip to Aston Villa and a meeting with Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea at the Emirates. After that they must travel to Sunderland and Brighton. Coventry, meanwhile, must also travel to Manchester City in their third fixture after a home opener against Hull, which already seems crucial, followed by meetings against Brighton and Nottingham Forest. The East Midlands side may open their season at home to Leeds but after that they take on Liverpool away, Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground and play Villa away, with Coventry’s visit closing out a difficult opening month. Hull must play Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle in the first month, while Fulham, entering the post-Marco Silva era, face Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United in their first five. By contrast Liverpool have a steady start - opening their campaign away to Newcastle United prior to meeting Forest, Ipswich, Fulham and a trip to Andoni Iraola’s former club Bournemouth. The Cherries, under new boss Marco Rose, have a number of difficult tests - with trips to Manchester City and Newcastle along with visits of Everton and Sunderland to the south coast. Although there is a Manchester derby pencilled in for the weekend of 12 September, neither City nor United face overly daunting openings. All kick-off times and dates beyond the opening weekend remain subject to change pending the confirmation of broadcasting schedules. Iraola will bring Liverpool to former club Bournemouth in September (Reuters) Arsenal 21 August, 8pm (all BST) - Coventry City (h) 29 August, 3pm - Aston Villa (a) 5 September, 3pm - Chelsea (h) 12 September, 3pm - Sunderland (a) 19 September, 3pm - Brighton and Hove Albion (a) Aston Villa 23 August, 2pm - Brighton and Hove Albion (a) 29 August, 3pm - Arsenal (h) 5 September, 3pm - Hull City (a) 12 September, 3pm - Nottingham Forest (h) 19 September, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur (a) Bournemouth 23 August, 12pm - Manchester City (a) 29 August, 3pm - Everton (h) 5 September, 3pm - Newcastle United (a) 12 September, 3pm - Brentford (h) 19 September, 3pm - Liverpool (h) Brentford 22 August, 5:30pm - Tottenham Hotspur (h) 29 August, 3pm - Leeds United (a) 5 September, 3pm - Sunderland (h) 12 September, 3pm - Bournemouth (a) 19 September, 3pm - Chelsea (h) Brighton and Hove Albion 23 August, 2pm - Aston Villa (h) 29 August, 3pm - Chelsea (a) 5 September, 3pm - Leeds United (h) 12 September, 3pm - Coventry City (a) 19 September, 3pm - Arsenal (h) Chelsea 24 August, 8pm - Fulham (a) 29 August, 3pm - Brighton and Hove Albion (h) 5 September, 3pm - Arsenal (a) 12 September, 3pm - Hull City (h) 19 September, 3pm - Brentford (a) Coventry City 21 August, 8pm - Arsenal (a) 29 August, 3pm - Hull City (h) 5 September, 3pm - Manchester City (a) 12 September, 3pm - Brighton and Hove Albion (h) 19 September, 3pm - Nottingham Forest (a) Crystal Palace 22 August, 3pm - Everton (a) 29 August, 3pm - Manchester City (h) 5 September, 3pm - Fulham (a) 12 September, 3pm - Ipswich Town (h) 19 September, 3pm - Leeds United (a) Everton 22 August, 3pm - Crystal Palace (h) 29 August, 3pm - Bournemouth (a) 5 September, 3pm - Manchester United (h) 12 September, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur (a) 19 September, 3pm - Ipswich Town (h) Fulham 24 August, 8pm - Chelsea (h) 29 August, 3pm - Sunderland (a) 5 September, 3pm - Crystal Palace (h) 12 September, 3pm - Liverpool (a) 19 September, 3pm - Manchester United (h) Hull City 22 August, 12:30pm - Manchester United (h) 29 August, 3pm - Coventry City (a) 5 September, 3pm - Aston Villa (h) 12 September, 3pm - Chelsea (a) 19 September, 3pm - Newcastle United (a) Ipswich Town 22 August, 3pm - Sunderland (h) 29 August, 3pm - Manchester United (a) 5 September, 3pm - Liverpool (h) 12 September, 3pm - Crystal Palace (a) 19 September, 3pm - Everton (a) Leeds United 22 August, 3pm - Nottingham Forest (a) 29 August, 3pm - Brentford (h) 5 September, 3pm - Brighton and Hove Albion (a) 12 September, 3pm - Newcastle United (h) 19 September, 3pm - Crystal Palace (h) Liverpool 23 August, 4:30pm - Newcastle United (a) 29 August, 3pm - Nottingham Forest (h) 5 September, 3pm - Ipswich Town (a) 12 September, 3pm - Fulham (h) 19 September, 3pm - Bournemouth (a) Manchester City 23 August, 2pm - Bournemouth (h) 29 August, 3pm - Crystal Palace (a) 5 September, 3pm - Coventry City (h) 12 September, 3pm - Manchester United (a) 19 September, 3pm - Sunderland (h) Manchester United 22 August, 12:30pm - Hull City (a) 29 August, 3pm - Ipswich Town (h) 5 September, 3pm - Everton (a) 12 September, 3pm - Manchester City (h) 19 September, 3pm - Fulham (a) Newcastle United 23 August, 4:30pm - Liverpool (h) 29 August, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur (a) 5 September, 3pm - Bournemouth (a) 12 September, 3pm - Leeds United (a) 19 September, 3pm - Hull City (h) Nottingham Forest 22 August, 3pm - Leeds United (h) 29 August, 3pm - Liverpool (a) 5 September, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur (h) 12 September, 3pm - Aston Villa (a) 19 September, 3pm - Coventry City (h) Sunderland 22 August, 3pm - Ipswich Town (a) 29 August, 3pm - Sunderland v Fulham (h) 5 September, 3pm - Brentford (a) 12 September, 3pm - Arsenal (h) 19 September, 3pm - Manchester City (a) Tottenham Hotspur 22 August, 5:30pm - Brentford (a) 29 August, 3pm - Newcastle United (h) 5 September, 3pm - Nottingham Forest (a) 12 September, 3pm - Everton (h) 19 September, 3pm - Aston Villa (h)