Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

Perhaps one of the reasons Manchester United have the best opening day record in the Premier League era – with 22 wins from 33 games – is because they regularly kick off their campaigns at Old Trafford.

2025-26 will be the ninth consecutive season that the Red Devils start their season with home advantage and it’s also the 23rd time in Premier League history, a figure only matched by their opening day opponents for this campaign, Arsenal.

Opening day fixtures at home in Premier League:

• Manchester United - 23
• Arsenal - 23
• Chelsea - 22
• Everton - 22
• Newcastle United - 18

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

I'm with you on that one, Arsenal fan (not complaining).

My birthday has just been and gone. No football. No transfer window. Just me, sat staring into space with my brew, like that Spongebob meme.

Blimey, makes me sound like a barrel of laughs doesn't it.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United will host Arsenal at Old Trafford in perhaps the most eye-catching fixture on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

It is only the second time in history that the two sides will be facing each other in the opening game of a domestic league campaign.

The last time they did so, the Red Devils were comfortable 4-1 winners in 1989-90, with Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes among the scorers that day for Alex Ferguson’s side.

It is also just the fourth time the two teams will contest a league fixture in August and United have won each of the previous three, including the famous 8-2 thrashing in 2011.

Coincidentally, it’s the ninth consecutive season that Manchester United have kicked off their season at home. The last time they travelled away for an opening day fixture was in 2016-17, when Jose Mourinho’s side registered a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth.

Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images

Right you are, Stu and Ethan.

And Chelsea will be looking to build on a 2024-25 season where they finished fourth in the Premier League to earn Champions League qualification and also won a European trophy in the Conference League.

The Blues, who are currently in the United States where they are taking part in the Fifa Club World Cup, will begin their domestic campaign with a game against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on 17 August.

That will be the first of four consecutive London derbies that they will compete in at the start of the 2025-26 season.

They will be at West Ham the following week before Fulham make the short hop for a third successive London derby for Maresca's side on 30 August.

Their run of fixtures in London will finish with a trip to Brentford on 13 September before their first trip outside the capital will see them face Manchester United at Old Trafford on 20 September.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Aston Villa clung onto their Champions League hopes until the final game of last season and they must avoid another mid-season collapse this time.

Around 10 rocky weeks between October and January derailed their season and top five dreams yet they still managed to finish sixth.

There is the chance for opening day revenge in the early kick off against Newcastle at Villa Park following last season's 5-1 defeat at St James' Park in their first match.

Aside from the Magpies, Villa do not face another team who finished above them until Manchester City and Liverpool in game weeks nine and 10.

It means Opta's Power Rating has deemed their opening five games, which also includes Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sunderland as the 'kindest' in the Premier League.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The highest-scoring result on matchday one of a Premier League season is seven goals – and it’s happened on seven occasions.

It started with Liverpool’s 6-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace in 1994 and most recently occurred when Liverpool again won, this time in a 4-3 thriller versus Marcelo Bielsa’s newly promoted Leeds United in 2020.

Like Liverpool, Arsenal have been involved in three opening-day fixtures that have featured seven goals, most recently beating Leicester 4-3 at home in 2017.

• 20 August 1994 - Crystal Palace 1-6 Liverpool
• 20 August 1994 - Sheffield Wednesday 3-4 Tottenham
• 19 August 1995 - Southampton 3-4 Nottingham Forest
• 15 August 2009 - Everton 1-6 Arsenal
• 14 August 2016 - Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool
• 11 August 2017 - Arsenal 4-3 Leicester City
• 12 September 2020 - Liverpool 4-3 Leeds United

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

I think that statman shout was aimed at me, Dom, but I can't take credit for the next post. Our actual stattos have dug these out.

With regard to how likely I think it will be this year, though? That is anyone's guess, but I tell you what - if we get anything like some of these we will be in for a treat!

If you are just joining us, good morning. We have been discussing the announcement of all Premier League fixtures for the 2025/26 season. You can catch up here:

• Here is your full list of opening weekend fixtures - Liverpool host Bournemouth while Arsenal head to Man Utd
• You can find out all of the fixtures for your club here
• When are the early seasons derbies taking place?
• BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty on Everton marking their new era at Bramley Moore Dock

How do you think the season will play out? Keep your messages coming in, here's how:

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

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport

Thanks Rich and everyone else for texting in, following along, and liking my holiday pictures.

I'm going to take a break now. But Ben Ramsdale will be in charge as we continue reacting to the Premier League fixtures announcement...

Burnley

Burnley have the lowest win rate in their opening game of the season of any of the current top-flight clubs (22%), winning just twice in their nine previous campaigns.

Those two victories came against Southampton in 2019 and Chelsea in 2017.

Scott Parker's side travel to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the 2025-26 season.

Thomas7sankara on X: If you want to win the league again, then you have to play the big teams early. First game at home, last game at home, bring it on. We fear nobody. Title Number 21 heading to Anfield.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Burnley's last stay in the Premier League was a joyless experience under Vincent Kompany - although he followed that up by being appointed Bayern Munich coach so it worked out well for him.

They were ultra-resilient under Scott Parker in the Championship last season and will need to show that again to ensure they have a decent start to this campaign.

They open up at Tottenham Hotspur, under new manager Thomas Frank, then travel to Manchester United and Manchester City in their first six games, as well as facing champions Liverpool at Turf Moor.

Not easy. Not easy at all.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Nottingham Forest will have to adapt next season should they reach the Europa Conference League group stage.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have qualified for Europe for the first time since 1995-96 after finishing seventh last season, with their Conference League play-off games scheduled for 21 and 28 August.

That puts the first leg between the opening day visit of Brentford and a trip to Crystal Palace and the second leg comes before they face West Ham at the City Ground on 30 August.

The Conference League group stage does not start until 2 October but Forest would face a long trip to Newcastle days later and it would be the same for the second game on 23 October, with their next match at Bournemouth.

Of course, Forest still need to reach the group stage first and, if they do, those games will be pushed back 24 hours but the squad will need to learn to adjust to the rigours of balancing European football with the Premier League.