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Premier League Matchweek 1 Fixtures: Key Storylines And Tickets (21–24 August 2026)
Written by Aviran Zazon
The Premier League returns with a bang, and with nine new managers in charge. Meanwhile, Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town are all back in the division after promotion, while the weekend finishes with a west London derby at Craven Cottage.
Below, we run through all 10 fixtures from Friday to Monday and pick Newcastle United against Liverpool as our Match of the Week. If you are looking for seats late in the week, Ticket-Compare.com is a comparison platform compiling options from pre-vetted resale sites and official ticketing partners, including hospitality, so you can compare price and availability before clicking through to the provider.
Arsenal vs Coventry – Emirates Stadium, London (Friday 21 August 2026)
A Friday night at the Emirates Stadium brings Coventry straight back into the top flight at one of the division's biggest grounds. The Sky Blues are playing Premier League football for the first time since 2001, so their opening fixture could hardly offer a sharper change of scene. Arsenal start with high expectations. Bukayo Saka should be involved for the hosts, with Jack Rudoni among Coventry's established midfield options. If you're looking for seats, you can check the remaining options below.
Emirates Stadium seating plan
Hull City vs Manchester United – MKM Stadium, Hull (Saturday 22 August 2026)
The home crowd at the MKM Stadium has waited a long time for another Premier League afternoon. Hull City return to the division for the first time since 2016/17 after winning promotion through the play-offs, and opening against Manchester United immediately gives the Tigers a demanding test. Jack Butland is among Hull's new recruits, while Bruno Fernandes remains central to Manchester United in every sense. For late availability, it's worth a quick look at the fixture below.
MKM Stadium seating plan
Hull City vs Manchester United Tickets
Everton FC vs Crystal Palace – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (Saturday 22 August 2026)
Everton begin their second season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the opening weekend offering the Toffees an immediate chance to establish some home momentum. Brennan Johnson is now among Everton's attacking options, while Dwight McNeil has moved in the opposite direction and should be in the mix for Crystal Palace. The Eagles arrive with their own new faces and a different feel to last season, with Glasner bowing out with that Conference League title. If you've left it late, you'll usually get the clearest picture of what is left by checking the fixture below.
Hill Dickinson Stadium seating plan
Everton FC vs Crystal Palace Tickets
Ipswich vs Sunderland – Portman Road Stadium, Ipswich (Saturday 22 August 2026)
Premier League football is back at Portman Road after Ipswich Town won promotion from the Championship, giving the Tractor Boys another chance to establish themselves in the top flight. Sunderland arrive from a very different starting point as this is the Black Cats' second successive Premier League season, and they also have European football on the calendar. This will be an interesting early measure of where each side stands. Chuba Akpom is among Ipswich's attacking choices, while Brobbey remains Sunderland's target man. If you're comparing prices and seat areas, it's easier if you start with the fixture below.
Portman Road seating plan
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United – City Ground, Nottingham (Saturday 22 August 2026)
The City Ground should be one of Saturday's louder settings, particularly with travelling Leeds supporters adding to the noise around an opening-day fixture. Nottingham Forest will want to make home advantage count immediately, as Glasner swaps one set of noisy fans at Palace for another in the East Midlands. Morgan Gibbs-White remains one of Forest's key attacking midfield options. Leeds United, meanwhile, begin a second successive Premier League campaign, with Harry Wilson now among the Whites' current midfield and attacking choices. If you're looking for seats, you can check what remains for the fixture below.
City Ground seating plan
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United Tickets
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur – Community Stadium, London (Saturday 22 August 2026)
You're always in for a stern test when you play Brentford play at the Community Stadium. The compact setting keeps the crowd close to the pitch, and the Bees begin with a forward in Igor Thiago who remains central to their attacking options. Tottenham arrive with a noticeably altered group. Andy Robertson now adds extra experience to the Spurs defence after his summer move from Liverpool. For late availability, it's worth a quick look at the seats below.
Community Stadium seating plan
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur Tickets
Brighton vs Aston Villa – American Express Stadium, Brighton (Sunday 23 August 2026)
The schedule gives this one a little extra complication. Brighton are due to play Tromsø away in Europe on Thursday before returning to the American Express Stadium for Sunday's league fixture, leaving the Seagulls with a short turnaround. Costinha is among Brighton's new first-team additions, while John McGinn remains an experienced presence for Aston Villa. The Villans will see an opportunity to make Brighton work immediately after their European trip. If you've left it late, you'll usually find the clearest picture of what is left by checking below.
American Express Stadium seating plan
Brighton vs Aston Villa Tickets
Manchester City vs Bournemouth – Etihad Stadium, Manchester (Sunday 23 August 2026)
Erling Haaland is the obvious name to watch whenever Manchester City play at the Etihad Stadium, and the striker remains part of City's much-changed first-team squad heading into the new campaign. Bournemouth have their own new attacking option in Álvaro Rodríguez, who joined during the summer and is now listed with the Cherries' first team. Let's see whether Bournemouth can make City work for something on the opening weekend.
Etihad Stadium seating plan
Manchester City vs Bournemouth Tickets
Newcastle United vs Liverpool – St James' Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne (Sunday 23 August 2026)
Match of the Week
St James' Park on a Sunday gives the weekend its strongest heavyweight setting. Newcastle United will have Anthony Elanga among the attacking players pushing the Magpies forward, while Liverpool's new-season group includes Florian Wirtz and several other changes from the side supporters knew a year ago. A result in this fixture would be a useful early marker against another side expecting to compete near the European places. The steep stands at St James' Park give the home crowd a distinctive presence around the pitch, which adds to the appeal of this classic Premier League encounter. Liverpool supporters comparing late availability can use Ticket-Compare.com to see resale and hospitality options together before choosing a provider.
St James' Park seating plan
Newcastle United vs Liverpool Tickets
Fulham vs Chelsea – Craven Cottage, London (Monday 24 August 2026)
Monday night brings a west London derby beside the Thames, and we all know that Craven Cottage is a very different setting from most Premier League grounds. In the middle of a very Iberian rebuild, Fulham enter the season under new management and have added Gonzalo García to an attacking group that also includes Rodrigo Muniz. Across west London, Cole Palmer remains among the main creative threats for Chelsea as they kick off a new era with Xabi Alonso at the helm. Local rivalry and the chance to begin with a derby win supply enough edge on their own.
Craven Cottage seating plan
Which Premier League Fixtures Stand Out This Weekend?
With nine new managers in place, the opening weekend is packed with intrigue. Coventry and Hull return after long absences from the Premier League, Brighton face a short turnaround from European football, Newcastle and Liverpool meet at St James' Park, and Fulham and Chelsea finish the matchweek with a west London derby.
Ticket demand will naturally be stronger around some of those fixtures than others, particularly as the weekend gets closer. Ticket-Compare.com lets supporters compare what is still listed across pre-vetted resale sites and official hospitality partners in one place, then click through to buy directly from the relevant provider.
