From Liverpool vs Newcastle to the first Manchester derby of the season, here are five Premier League fixtures in the opening weeks that will kickstart the excitement the Premier League is known for.

The Premier League rarely takes long to deliver blockbuster matches, and the opening four gameweeks of the 2026/27 season are packed with fixtures that could immediately influence the title race, European qualification hopes and even the momentum clubs carry into the rest of the campaign.

With Arsenal looking to defend their crown, Liverpool hoping to reclaim the title, Chelsea beginning a new era under Xabi Alonso, Tottenham rebuilding under Roberto De Zerbi and both Manchester clubs desperate to bounce back, the opening weeks promise drama from the very first whistle.

Here are five matches every football fan should have circled on the calendar.

Liverpool vs Newcastle (Gameweek 1)

Liverpool failed to defend their title last season, with Arsenal finally claiming the Premier League title after a 22-year drought.

Interestingly, both teams have undergone a lot of changes, with both their managers leaving the club. While Liverpool have appointed Andoni Iraola after he left Bournemouth, Newcastle are fresh in the search for a new manager, having just let go of Eddie Howe.

Both teams will enter the season with new managers, ideologies and a fresh mix of players following their transfer activity.

Newcastle have recently put themselves in the conversation as a top six club and this fixture has the potential to kick start the Premier League on a high note.

Fulham vs Chelsea (Gameweek 1)

West London derbies always come with an edge, but this one carries even greater significance.

Chelsea enter the season under new manager Xabi Alonso after a disappointing campaign that saw them finish outside the European places. The Blues have invested heavily again this summer, adding experienced names like Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson alongside younger talents, making expectations higher than ever.

Fulham, meanwhile, have become one of the toughest home teams in the division and will relish the chance to spoil Chelsea’s fresh start. Alonso will want an immediate statement victory, but Craven Cottage has rarely been an easy place for visiting sides.

19 days until the Premier League returns. 🤩

— Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) August 3, 2026

Arsenal vs Aston Villa (Gameweek 2)

This fixture has quietly become one of the Premier League’s most fascinating matchups.

Aston Villa have repeatedly frustrated Arsenal in recent seasons, and Unai Emery has shown he knows exactly how to expose the Gunners’ weaknesses. Even as defending champions, Arsenal cannot afford another slow start if they want to retain the title.

Villa remain one of the league’s most tactically disciplined teams and possess enough attacking quality to punish mistakes. If Arsenal are serious about defending their crown, this is exactly the type of fixture they must start winning consistently.

Arsenal vs Chelsea (Gameweek 3)

Few fixtures generate as much excitement as a London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea.

This meeting arrives unusually early in the campaign, meaning both sides could already be facing questions about their early-season form. Arsenal will hope home advantage gives them the edge, while Chelsea will be eager to show that Alonso’s project is beginning to take shape.

With two squads packed with attacking talent and plenty of recent transfer activity adding fresh storylines, this could be one of the standout matches of the opening month. A victory here would provide more than just three points; it would hand one of London’s giants a huge psychological advantage.

Manchester United vs Manchester City (Gameweek 4)

The first Manchester derby arrives before the season has barely settled, making it even more unpredictable.

Manchester City will be looking to re-establish themselves after missing out on the title, while Manchester United are desperate to prove they can once again compete with their biggest rivals. Derby matches rarely follow league form, and emotion often outweighs tactics.

With local pride, bragging rights and potentially early momentum in the title race on the line, this promises to be one of the biggest spectacles of the opening weeks. 

Manchester City new manager Enzo Maresca has a lot of to prove once the Premier League starts and there is no bigger platform than the Manchester derby against the wonder-working Michael Carrick and his tricky Red Devils.