We’re only a few weeks away from the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season, and anticipation is already reaching a fever pitch.
As reigning champions, Liverpool are heading into the new campaign with a huge target on their back.
There’s no doubt Arne Slot’s side will be determined to retain the title, and their activity in the transfer market reflects a team that’s not willing to lay down the crown without a fight.
After three years of finishing as runners-up, Arsenal will hope the big-money signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokerres from Sporting CP will be enough to finally get them over the line.
But aside from Liverpool, the Gunners also have Manchester City to worry about. Pep Guardiola has revamped his squad and will have one eye on restoring City to the pinnacle of the Premier League.
All eyes will be on Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City heading into the new season, with the trio heavily tipped to compete for the Premier League title.
Chelsea have also strengthened and recently thrashed Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain to lift the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
However, it remains to be seen if they have what it takes to sustain a title challenge next season after fading out of the picture by February last term.
Manchester United will also be looking to put a forgettable 2024/25 campaign behind them, so the new season is packed with plenty of potential outcomes.
Three new clubs have joined the fold, Sunderland, Burnley, and Leeds United, and will be keen to make their mark in what is considered the most competitive league in the world.
With what promises to be a nail-biting campaign fast approaching, we’ve singled out some of the most can’t-miss Premier League fixtures to watch this coming season.
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur
The rivalry between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur doesn’t quite have the history of the North London Derby. However, it has grown to become one of the most hostile and competitive matchups in the Premier League.
Both sides will head into the new campaign as European champions, but the Blues will have a bit more bragging rights, having also won the Club World Cup in the United States over the summer.
Chelsea have had their neighbours’ number for years, winning 10 of their last 13 Premier League meetings (D2, L1), including each of the last four.
Both sides will lock horns first at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 1 and then again at Stamford Bridge on the penultimate weekend of the season.
Chelsea tickets will be in high demand on Seatsnet.com across both fixtures, with Blues fans expecting Enzo Maresca’s side to extend their dominance over Spurs.
Newcastle United vs Sunderland – Tyne-Wear Derby
For over half a decade, the Tyne–Wear Derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland had been absent from the Premier League.
That changes this season with Sunderland’s long-awaited return to the top flight.
The animosity between these North East sides is deep-rooted and fierce, with geography, pride, and history all blending into one of English football’s rawest rivalries.
Newcastle will host Sunderland on March 21. But before that, the Stadium of Light will be the setting for the first top-flight derby in years on December 13.
Sunderland will be underdogs, but this is the kind of game where form goes out the window.
Their next meeting will be the 158th affair between them. Newcastle have won 54 games, while Sunderland have come out on top in 53 (D50).
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur – North London Derby
Few rivalries in football can match the intensity of the North London Derby. Arsenal and Tottenham are age-old foes with an unyielding desire to be the dominant club north of the capital.
The first bout will take place at the Emirates Stadium on November 22. Arsenal haven’t lost a home North London Derby since 2010.
They’ll be keen to extend that run, especially with title ambitions on the line.
When the reverse fixture rolls around in February at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Arsenal will arrive with confidence, having won on their last three visits there.
Spurs haven’t beaten Arsenal in any competition since 2022, but with Thomas Frank at the helm, they’ll fancy their chances of getting one over their arch-rivals next season.
Liverpool vs Manchester United – The Northwest Derby
Liverpool vs Manchester United is the biggest fixture in English football and one of the most iconic rivalries in the world of sports.
Two of the most decorated clubs in the country are set to go head-to-head in the famous Northwest Derby. But it has lost its competitive edge over the past few years.
United have won just one of their last 14 meetings with Liverpool in the Premier League.
That is a statistic that highlights where both clubs currently stand, and it’s on Ruben Amorim’s side to fix those awful numbers.
Amorim earned a point in his first game against Liverpool, but he’ll earn the praise of supporters if he can snap a five-game winless run.
Both sides will meet at Anfield on October 18 before heading to Old Trafford for the reverse fixture in May. Tickets to these games will be available on secondary marketplaceSeatsnet.com.
Manchester United vs Manchester City – The Manchester Derby
The Manchester Derby is easily one of the most unpredictable and must-watch fixtures every year.
City have been on the upswing, leaving United chasing shadows in the bottom half of the standings.
With United looking to reclaim their position at the top of the table, this fixture would be a decent test of their ambitions next season.
Amorim masterminded an unbeaten run in his first two derbies, including a clean sheet at Old Trafford and a shock win at the Etihad Stadium.
Whether those performances were a sign of a turning tide or a blip in City’s relentless rhythm remains to be seen.
Pep Guardiola will want a strong response when the teams meet at the Etihad on September 13. The January return fixture at Old Trafford could have a telling impact on where both sides finish.
Liverpool vs Manchester City
No fixture over the past decade has delivered quite like Liverpool vs Man City. This is modern football’s premier heavyweight bout, featuring two sides that blend attacking flair with tactical discipline.
The rivalry has had many memorable chapters under Jurgen Klopp and Guardiola. While Klopp has now moved on, Arne Slot is proving the doubters wrong with a fast, fluid Liverpool side that refuses to step back.
City will host Liverpool on November 8, and Anfield will witness the return leg on February 7. Both matches promise fireworks, and these games could very well decide the fate of the title.
