The 10 Premier League Games You Can’t Miss in 2026-27

Newcastle have the richest owners in the Premier League, but their ambitious project has not gone according to plan. PSR and SCR regulations have limited their spending, and this summer they lost three key players in Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon, as well as long-time manager Eddie Howe. Many football fans still see them playing good football, but the first game of the season will offer a much clearer picture of where this squad actually stands.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are coming off an underwhelming campaign and have brought in Andoni Iraola to turn things around. The Spaniard impressed at Mirandés, Rayo Vallecano, and Bournemouth, and Liverpool should be one of the most entertaining teams to watch under his attacking approach. If Iraola can implement his ideas quickly, the Reds could emerge as serious title contenders, and the head to head record only adds to the appeal. Liverpool won both meetings last season, 4:1 at Anfield and 3:2 at St. James' Park, with the last 10 encounters averaging an impressive 3.6 goals per game.

Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, enter the season as the main title favorites at around +150 to +160 odds. Their consistency last season was impressive, and they strengthened further with the additions of Bruno Guimaraes and Christian Tzolis. Their biggest strength, though, was the defense, which makes William Saliba's injury a real concern. The Frenchman suffered a back injury in the World Cup semifinal against Spain, and Arsenal's defensive setup will be tested immediately against another top side.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back from a disastrous campaign that saw them finish 10th and miss out on European football. The arrival of Xabi Alonso, combined with a number of new signings, has raised expectations considerably, and the squad is now worth around €1.37 billion, only slightly behind Manchester City and Arsenal. Managing a squad that large, and all the egos that come with it, could be Alonso's biggest challenge. The recent head to head record heavily favors Arsenal, who have won seven of the last 10 meetings with the other three ending in draws, making Chelsea's task at the Emirates even tougher.

The Manchester Derby divides the city into red and blue and remains one of the biggest rivalries in English football. Manchester United enjoyed an impressive turnaround under Michael Carrick last season, posting the best points per game record in the league under his management and eventually climbing to third after it looked like they might struggle to even qualify for Europe. Many still doubt Carrick's credentials, though, and this derby will be his first real test of the new season after United open with Hull, Ipswich, and Everton.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are entering a new era under Enzo Maresca, a former Pep Guardiola assistant. The squad remains one of the strongest in world football, but Guardiola's departure raises major questions. Losing Bernardo Silva and potentially Rodri only adds to the uncertainty, and many around the league see Maresca as a significant downgrade. Still, with Erling Haaland leading the line and plenty of quality around him, City remain capable of beating anyone.

The duel between two potential dark horses should serve as a measuring stick for both sides. Tottenham are coming off a disastrous season in which they narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 17th. They responded strongly in the transfer market, though, bringing in one of the league's best managers, Roberto De Zerbi, along with quality additions such as Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan van Hecke, and Stefano Sensi. With no European football to distract them, Spurs can focus entirely on domestic competitions and should be aiming for a major turnaround.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are coming off a magnificent campaign that saw them finish fourth. Unai Emery remains one of the Premier League's most respected managers, but he now faces the challenge of balancing the EPL with Champions League football while replacing key players from last season, including Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans. The replacements look promising, though, and if anyone can make the pieces fit, it is Emery.

A few fixtures in world football carry the same weight as Liverpool vs. Manchester United, a rivalry built on history, trophies, and regional pride. Both clubs enter the year with high expectations and are trying to start new eras under new leadership: Liverpool under newly appointed Iraola, and Manchester United under former Red Devil Michael Carrick, who impressed as a caretaker manager last season.

United won both meetings a year ago, adding even more pressure on Liverpool to respond. The Reds will also be desperate to end their poor recent home record in this fixture, having not beaten Manchester United at Anfield since early 2023.

One of the oldest rivalries in English football dates back to 1894. The split between the two clubs began when Everton's president decided to move the club from Anfield to Goodison Park, a decision that eventually led to the formation of Liverpool FC. Everton have since left Goodison Park after 133 years for the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, and while the move offers greater capacity and modern facilities, many suggest Everton lost something important along the way.

Goodison was famous for its intimidating atmosphere and compact stands, and plenty of Everton supporters believe it gave the Toffees a unique home advantage that will be difficult to replicate. This will be only the second Merseyside Derby played at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the first ending in a 2:1 win for Liverpool last season.

Arsenal vs Manchester City could once again prove to be one of the defining fixtures of the Premier League season, with both sides expected to lead the title race. The managerial battle makes it even more fascinating, since Mikel Arteta and Maresca both previously worked alongside Guardiola at City, meaning two of his former assistants will face off with the title potentially on the line. Arteta has already built Arsenal into champions, while Maresca faces the enormous task of maintaining City's standards after Guardiola's decade long reign.

Despite Arsenal having the better season and winning the title, the Gunners failed to beat Manchester City in any of their three meetings a year ago. City won 2:1 at home, the other league clash ended in a 1:1 draw, and the Citizens also had the upper hand in the EFL Cup, beating Arsenal 2:0 in the final.

The North London Derby carries an extra edge this year given how differently these two clubs enter the season. Tottenham begin the campaign with another managerial reset and plenty of questions about whether De Zerbi can rebuild a side that came dangerously close to relegation. Arsenal, on the other hand, have the luxury of continuity, with Arteta still at the helm and the club building on the foundations that finally delivered the title.

Psychological advantage is surely on Arsenal's side, not only because of that continuity, but because of the head to head results as well. Last season, the Gunners beat Spurs 4:1 in both meetings, and looking further back, Arsenal have won five consecutive official duels while Tottenham's last win in the fixture came in May 2022.

The Tyne-Wear Derby returns with both Newcastle and Sunderland entering a new chapter, but for very different reasons. Newcastle are looking to rebuild after a disappointing 12th place finish and a turbulent summer that saw key figures leave the club. New manager Matthias Jaissle now faces the difficult task of rebuilding a squad that has lost a huge amount of experience and quality.

Sunderland, meanwhile, arrive with enormous confidence after producing one of the greatest seasons ever by a promoted Premier League side. The Black Cats finished seventh in 2025/26 and secured Europa League football, an extraordinary achievement considering they had only just returned to the top flight. That success creates a massive challenge, though, as they will have to balance Europe and domestic competitions, which is rarely an easy thing to do. The Black Cats are definitely one of the teams to follow this season.

The duel between these two English giants has always been exciting, but the fact that Maresca faces his former club makes this one even more interesting. He spent 18 months in charge of Chelsea, winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup before departing in January 2026, then made a remarkable return to Manchester having previously worked as one of Guardiola's assistants at City. He will be up against Xabi Alonso, who is considered one of the top managers in the game right now.

These teams last met in the FA Cup Final, when Manchester City won 1:0 at Wembley in a game that could have saved Chelsea's season by securing European qualification. Looking further back, City have dominated the fixture, winning the last six head to head meetings. The last time Chelsea beat the Citizens was back in 2021, in the Champions League.