By Simon Wilkes
Liverpool will start the defence of their Premier League crown in the opening match of the 2025/26 campaign on Friday 15 August, when Bournemouth visit Anfield.
Arne Slot’s Reds take on the Cherries in an 8pm kick-off televised on Sky Sports.
Liverpool beat Bournemouth 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium in February and 3-0 at Anfield in September last year, so they will be confident of collecting three points from their opener.
Opening round promises excitement
David Moyes’ Everton finished 13th in their final season at Goodison Park and will start the 2025/26 season with a trip to Elland Road to face promoted Leeds United.
The match between Moyes’ Toffees and Daniel Farke’s Whites kicks off at 8pm on Monday 18 August and is also being televised by Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, top-flight new boys Burnley face a trip to the capital to tackle Thomas Frank’s Tottenham on Saturday 16 August.
Sunderland, who won the Championship play-off final after beating Sheffield United, welcome West Ham to the Stadium of Light in a 3pm kick-off.
Arsenal were Liverpool’s biggest challengers for the title in 2024/25 and Mikel Arteta’s Gunners will be looking to make a strong start to the new campaign when they take on Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 4.30pm kick-off on Sunday 17 August.
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Opening weekend of 2025/26 Premier League season
Friday 15 August
Liverpool vs Bournemouth (8pm)
Saturday 16 August
Aston Villa vs Newcastle (12.30pm)
Brighton vs Fulham (3pm)
Nottingham Forest vs Brentford (3pm)
Sunderland vs West Ham (3pm)
Tottenham vs Burnley (3pm)
Wolves vs Manchester City (5.30pm)
Sunday 17 August
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (2pm)
Manchester United vs Arsenal (4.30pm)
Monday 18 August
Leeds vs Everton (8pm)
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Closing weekend of 2025/26 Premier League season
The 2025/26 season ends on Sunday 24 May in 2026 and Liverpool will finish the campaign on home soil, this time welcoming Brentford to Anfield.
Everton, on the other hand, face a long trip to London to tackle Tottenham, with all games kicking off at 4pm UK time.
Sunday May 24
Brighton vs Manchester United
Burnley vs Wolves
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
Fulham vs Newcastle
Liverpool vs Brentford
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth
Sunderland vs Chelsea
Tottenham vs Everton
West Ham vs Leeds
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