Summary

Live Reporting

Joe Rindl, Ben Ramsdale, Adwaidh Rajan & Maisie Gallen

  1. No easy games in the Premier League though. Even Sunderland at home.

    If the conversation's heading - and we've now all seen the fixtures - is it time to ask who's going to finish where next season?

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    Ref Derek 12:15 You also have to face The Mighty Leeds in December. Sorry but we did finish 24 points above you last season.

    Chris in Leeds

  3. Liverpool have most difficult opening 10 games

    Premier League 2025-26 fixture difficulty tableOpta

    Liverpool will face four of last season's Premier League top six in their first 10 games of the season.

    On top of that, they also welcome rivals Manchester United and make the trip to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.

    It means Arne Slot's reigning champions have been handed the hardest opening games of the 2025-26 Premier League season, according to Opta.

    During the first 10 games, Liverpool face opponents with an average Opta Poer Rating of 93.5 followed by Fulham, whoses opponents average out at 93.3.

    Manchester United, who have the hardest opening five matchdays by the same metrics, and Bournemouth are third and fourth respectively with an average opponent rating of 93.2.

  4. Luck of the draw I'm afraid, Anon.

    But if we're pointing out patterns...

    Chelsea face Sunderland on the last day of the season. The last two times they've done that they've won the league.

    Manchester United play Leeds on January 3 (for now). That's the same date Leeds knocked Man Utd out of the FA Cup when they were in League One.

    Message me if you spot anymore.

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    Fans love to be at home on the opening day of the season, but how can Man City have their 9th consecutive away opening day fixture in a row.... Which means you know who have their 9th consecutive home fixture on the opening day 🤦

    Anon

  6. James there, predicting Brentford to win the title at Anfield on the last day of the season.

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    Kelleher can celebrate the trophy lift when Brentford visit Anfield on the final day 🏆

    James

  8. Good question, Jamie. The answer's Man Utd.

    Opta rankingsOpta

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    Re: 1140 - who does Opta think has the hardest start?

    Jamie, Sunderland fan, Durham

  10. Can Brentford continue impressive opening day record?

    Brentford

    Of the current Premier League sides, Brentford are the only team never to have lost their opening game of the season, winning two and drawing two of their four matches in the top flight.

    With that said, the 2025-26 campaign will mark the Bees' first season in England's top division without Thomas Frank at the helm.

    Frank left the club earlier this month to join London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and as of now, Brentford remain managerless.

    The Bees travel to Nottingham Forest on this year's opening day.

  11. Closure, sweet closure.

    Thanks all. Now then, Premier League fixture reaction....

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    Hello, AFC Bournemouth was the name adopted in the early 1970s. Association football club so the name would appear first alphabetically.

    Nick in York

    Update - they apparently changed their name to AFC Bournemouth in 71 specifically to start every season top of the league.

    Charlie, Northants

    AFC Bournemouth were Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Football Club from 1923 to 1971 when it was officially renamed AFC Bournemouth. The folklore being that they were following AC Milan as they had just adopted the red and black stripes at that time.

    Phil, Blackfield

  13. Good Afternoon! Here's what you might've missed...

    If you are just joining us this afternoon, yes I am slowly losing the plot.

    But just before we had been discussing Man City's hopes for improvement this season as well as fan warnings that Premier League fixtures could change at short notice.

    You can catch up here:

    Want to get involved? You can do so here:

    • #bbcfootball
    • via WhatsApp on 03301231826
    • or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  14. How did we get here folks, how?

    But, if we're pointing out mistakes, somebody did text in while I was on my break to let me know I wrote stationary cupboard and not stationery cupboard earlier.

    It would have almost been alright grammatically if the BBC's stationery cupboard wasn't on wheels....

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    To be really pedantic AFC is actually an initialism, an acronym is something that you can say as another word, like NASA.

    Shaun

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    Ratcliffe and co. said they made a mistake in keeping Ten Hag and getting his signings in last season only to sack him shortly after. They can’t do that again even if Amorim has a bad opening 4-6 weeks, surely? I really want Chelsea’s obscene transfer strategy to fail but I think they’ll be just behind City and Liverpool at the top, with Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham and Villa fighting for the other European places.

    Harry, Maidstone

  17. Fans told to expect fixture changes at 'short notice'

    Premier League

    The Europa League, Champions League and Conference League trophies on displayGetty Images

    Fans have been warned by the Premier League that fixtures could be moved at "relatively short notice" next season because of the number of teams playing in Europe.

    A record nine top-flight clubs have qualified for continental competition in the 2025-26 campaign.

    The Premier League said there is an "increased likelihood" that games will be re-scheduled if English teams reach the latter stages and it suggested fans take this into consideration when planning their attendance at games.

    Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham will be playing in the Champions League next season.

    Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have qualified for the Europa League, while Nottingham Forest will be playing in the Conference League.

    "While the Premier League celebrates this success, it will come with an impact on the scheduling of league matches," a statement from the Premier League said.

    "There is an increased likelihood of Premier League fixtures moving at relatively short notice, after our fixture announcements, should our clubs progress to the knockout rounds of these competitions."

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    All teams should have to go back to their original names. That instantly puts Woolwich Arsenal at the bottom of the league.

    Anon

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    We named our 5-A-Side team Aardvark United many moons ago, so we could at least be top once.

    Nick, Wigan

  20. OK, OK I'll work on being more free-spirited.

    But only if somebody finally tells me if it's Association or Athletic in AFC Bournemouth, and the reason behind it.