The Only Fantasy Fixture Guide that Pulls No Punches! It feels like the Premier League season has just ended, but lo and behold the fixture list has dropped, and the 2025/26 Premier League Season is set to kick off on August 15th, meaning it’s time to get ready to set your lineups and set your squads for another big Fantasy Football Season. From opening weekend fireworks to nightmare fixture stretches, here’s everything you need to know to draft like a genius this season. Packed with tactical angles, raw banter, and the kind of insights only true football obsessives will clock – it’s fixture preview time.
Opening Weekend Highlights
Manchester United v Arsenal (Super Sunday)
The headline act, and aren’t we starting the Premier League Season in style! Amorim’s Full Season Premier League debut in front of the Old Trafford crowd against a team already in crisis mode by Gameweek 6 most years. The kind of match that breaks fantasy seasons early. In the words of your man, Here We Go! How does Cunha settle? Do Arsenal finally have a forward? We shall wait and see.
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Friday Night Football)
Arne Slot’s first league match as champions begins at Anfield against a seemingly soft target, based on how the summer is going. Expect heavy rotation speculation, but heavy goals too. Salah and Darwin managers are licking their lips.
Chelsea v Crystal Palace (Super Sunday)
Maresca’s Chelsea campaign kicks off at home to the FA Cup Champions. Palace love a chaotic opener, but can they handle Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Nicholas Jackson on a mission?
Aston Villa v Newcastle (Early Saturday)
The best of the rest face off early. Not going to lie, this looks like it could be the game of the opening weekend between two teams who absolutely love a slug fest. This will be fun. Europe-bound and bruising, this fixture will be a significant early test for Newcastle’s rotation plans.
Leeds v Everton (Monday Night Football)
Leeds are back at Elland Road under the lights. Moyes’ return to the top flight with Moysey’s Everton 2.0. There’s potential here for limbs lost, and own goals. Do I smell a red card here? Yeah, dunno why, but it just seems like the opening weekend madness that will fall in the lap of Leeds.
Fixture Difficulty Rankings: First 6 GWs
Easiest Starts
1) Sunderland: WHU, BUR, BRE, CRY, AVL, NFO
The Premier League returnees get a golden run. If they don’t bank points early, they’re doomed. Target short-term Sunderland assets.
2) Tottenham: BUR, MCI, BOU, WHU, BHA, WOL
Sneaky good start despite City in GW2. A great time to test the Thomas Frank gamble.
3) West Ham: SUN, CHE, NFO, TOT, CRY, EVE
Front-loaded with points potential, but Potter’s side has trust issues.
4) Brighton: FUL, EVE, MCI, BOU, TOT, CHE
City aside, this is a deceptively tidy run. Mitoma and whoever replaces Pedro anyone?
Read in more detail: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Difficulty Rankings (GWs 1–6)
Toughest Starts
1) Arsenal: MUN, LEE, LIV, NFO, MCI, NEW
The “are we just Spurs in disguise” bottle test begins immediately. This is the kind of schedule that breaks Arteta’s flipchart.
2) Man United: ARS, FUL, BUR, MCI, CHE, BRE
Amorim gets thrown in at the deep end. If they start well, take them seriously. If they don’t he’s checking in at the dole office come Halloween, simple enough really.
3) Burnley: TOT, SUN, MUN, LIV, NFO, MCI
Back in the Prem, back in the blender. Stay clear. Remember Southampton this season? Scott Parkers boys are in the mud from the get go and unless they put some points in the tank early doors they are doomed from the get-go.
4) Newcastle: AVL, LIV, LEE, WOL, BOU, ARS
Add UCL back in and this is a midfield rotation mess waiting to happen. Do they have the squad depth? Well…no. Last time they were in the Champions League was their team a shell of injuries by Xmas? Yes. A major gamble area, but could be where the differentials are hiding.
Read in more detail: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Difficulty Rankings (GWs 1–6)
Key Fixture Swings
GW7: Spurs, Brighton, Brentford enter strong runs
If you’re the type wildcarding early over at FPL , this is your moment. Time your pivots to teams like Brighton and Spurs with kind matchups from GW7 onwards. Honestly if Frank goes well early doors there are a lot of sleepers in that Spurs squad.
GW11-14: City, Chelsea, Palace fixtures soften
Perfect time to go for Haaland and double up on Chelsea midfielders.
GW16-18: Arsenal face MUN, NEW, FUL away
A nasty little block. Might be time to ditch Saka and co. ahead of the festive crunch.
December 27/30: Rotation carnage
Watch for back-to-back GW games in three days. Avoid fringe assets.
Read in more detail: Key Fixture Swings: Fantasy Turning Points in 2025/26
Draft Watchlist by Fixtures (Quickfire Picks)
✅ Draft Early
- Bowen (WHU): Great early run, talisman.
- Son (TOT): Burnley & Bournemouth first up.
- Mitoma (BHA): On set pieces, lovely first 6.
- Palmer (CHE): Palace, West Ham, Fulham = points.
❌ Avoid Early
- Saka (ARS): See: ‘Hell Run’
- Isak (NEW): Fixtures and UCL rotate risk
- Cunha replacement (WOL): Brutal start
- Wissa (BRE): Fixtures are against them in the post-Mbeumo era.
Club-by-Club Breakdown (First 5 Fixtures + Commentary)
We’ve analysed the first five fixtures of every Premier League club to highlight:
- Early fantasy targets & traps
- Draft considerations
- Manager risk zones
- Rotation watch & European hangovers
Arsenal
Fixtures: Man United (A), Leeds (H), Liverpool (A), Forest (H), Man City (H)
Commentary: Arsenal’s title hopes could be dented before October. Three Big Six showdowns in the first five mean it’s best to steer clear of attacking assets. Fantasy managers should wait for the fixture swing post-GW6. Even Gabriel’s minutes could be at risk early with Arteta’s new tactical toys.
Read in more detail: Arsenal: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Preview
Aston Villa
Fixtures: Newcastle (H), Brentford (A), Palace (H), Everton (A), Sunderland (A)
Commentary: Not a bad start at all for Unai Emery’s side. Two newly promoted sides in the first five and no top six opponents gives Ollie Watkins & Asensio real early-season value. Just keep an eye on their Thursday-Sunday rhythm if they make a deep Europa run — rotation could creep in.
Read in more detail: Aston Villa: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Preview
Bournemouth
Fixtures: Liverpool (A), Wolves (H), Tottenham (A), Brighton (H), Newcastle (A)
Commentary: Bournemouth might find themselves bottom after five. Three away trips to top-eight sides and tricky home games mean they are not worth the punt. Even the Keeper save points may not be enough to justify a pick. Avoid until at least GW9.
Read in more detail: Bournemouth: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Preview
Brentford
Fixtures: Forest (A), Villa (H), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (H), Fulham (A)
Commentary: The “post-Frank” era kicks off with instability, and Brentford’s opening run — while not horrific — could be deceptive. New systems, new manager, and no real idea of whats coming means your fantasy funds are better spent elsewhere early doors.
Read in more detail: Brentford: Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Preview
Brighton
Fixtures: Fulham (H), Everton (A), Man City (H), Bournemouth (A), Spurs (H)
Commentary: Brighton’s fixtures are fantasy-friendly either side of GW3. Joao Pedro (if he is still there) and Mitoma look prime for early double-digit returns, and no Europe means we might finally see consistent starts. Ideal for risk-savvy managers.
Read in more detail: Brighton – Premier League Fixture Preview 2025/26
Burnley
Fixtures: Tottenham (A), Sunderland (H), Man United (A), Liverpool (H), Forest (A)
Commentary: You’d think the fixture generator had a grudge. Burnley are unlikely to keep clean sheets or score many in this run. Stay far away until their schedule lightens up. A trap for casuals hoping for GW2 magic.
Read in more detail: Burnley – Premier League Fixture Preview 2025/26
Chelsea
Fixtures: Palace (H), West Ham (A), Fulham (H), Brentford (A), Man United (H)
Commentary: A deceptively solid start for Enzo Maresca. Palace and Fulham at home offer Palmer a platform to explode, while backliners could be handy early clean sheet hunters. Expect them to dominate possession but don’t go all in just yet.
Read in more detail: Chelsea 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Preview
Crystal Palace
Fixtures: Chelsea (A), Forest (H), Villa (A), Sunderland (H), West Ham (A)
Commentary: Palace start strong — and that makes Eze and Mateta very viable shouts. With uncertainty around their European spot, early games could be high-intensity, low rotation. Get in early and hop off around GW6.
Read in more detail: Crystal Palace 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Preview
Everton
Fixtures: Leeds (A), Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Villa (H), Liverpool (A)
Commentary: Life at the Dock starts with a wobbly run. Clean sheets could be scarce, but Pickford will rack up saves. Avoid Everton attackers unless Beto looks revived. Branthwaite may be the only asset worth a draft.
Read in more detail: Everton – Premier League 2025/26 Fixture Preview
Fulham
Fixtures: Brighton (A), Man United (H), Chelsea (A), Leeds (H), Brentford (A)
Commentary: Fulham’s early opponents all finished above them last year, but they tend to nick points in awkward places. Pereira is the most likely on the way out so look to Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi, and Raul Jimenez is a non-option. Watch the first 2 before committing.
Read in more detail: Fulham – 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Preview
Leeds United
Fixtures: Everton (H), Arsenal (A), Newcastle (H), Fulham (A), Wolves (H)
Commentary: The Elland Road return is kind, but Farke’s squad will be tested quickly. If they start hot, players like Gnonto could become bandwagons. Great differential hunting ground for draft leagues.
Read in more detail: Leeds United: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Liverpool
Fixtures: Bournemouth (H), Newcastle (A), Arsenal (H), Burnley (A), Forest (H)
Commentary: Slot opens with a goal-heavy mix. Salah’s nailed on, and Jota or Diaz could offer fireworks for brave managers. Expect attacking returns, but be cautious about rotating full-backs with UCL around the corner.
Read in more detail: Liverpool: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Manchester City
Fixtures: Wolves (A), Spurs (H), Brighton (A), Man United (H), Arsenal (A)
Commentary: Toughest early schedule of any top-six side. Haaland is still essential, but doubling/tripling up is risky. Foden, Doku & Marmoush will face brutal rotation from GW3 onward. Hold fire until we know how the Pep Roulette game is playing out.
Read in more detail: Manchester City: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Manchester United
Fixtures: Arsenal (H), Fulham (A), Burnley (H), Man City (A), Chelsea (H)
Commentary: A hellish start for Amorim. The Burnley game is your only chance to bank on returns. Bruno Fernandes could still hit pens and assists, but don’t expect much joy from Manchester again, maybe Cunha if he starts bright but hold out on the defence until October.
Read in more detail: Manchester United: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Newcastle United
Fixtures: Villa (A), Liverpool (H), Leeds (A), Wolves (H), Bournemouth (A)
Commentary: A back-loaded nightmare. European rotation + heavy travel = headaches. Don’t touch the defence. Gordon or Isak can be short-term plays, but don’t build your team around them.
Read in more detail: Newcastle United: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Nottingham Forest
Fixtures: Brentford (H), Palace (A), West Ham (H), Arsenal (A), Burnley (A)
Commentary: Forest have one of the most balanced openings of any side. If Gibbs-White starts well, he’s a sneaky early gem. Just be wary of Conference League qualifiers adding travel fatigue in GWs 3-5.
Read in more detail: Nottingham Forest: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Sunderland
Fixtures: West Ham (H), Burnley (A), Brentford (H), Palace (A), Villa (H)
Commentary: Best promoted team start by far. If they’re going to stay up, this is where it starts. No better time to punt on Clarke, Mayenda or even a 4.5 defender. Draft and reassess after GW6.
Read in more detail: Sunderland: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Tottenham
Fixtures: Burnley (H), Man City (A), Bournemouth (H), West Ham (A), Brighton (H)
Commentary: If Frank hits the ground running, Spurs could dominate the early narrative. Son is a monster in home games, and Maddison looks like a set-piece goldmine. Pedro Porro owners assemble — the fixtures love him.
Read in more detail: Tottenham Hotspur: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
West Ham
Fixtures: Sunderland (A), Chelsea (H), Forest (A), Spurs (H), Palace (H)
Commentary: Great early run. Bowen should be in every squad. Kudus could explode but he might be on his bike so sit tight and see that replacement potential. The defence is still a worry, but if you’re brave, Areola + CB combo could yield value in GW1–5.
Read in more detail: West Ham United: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Wolves
Fixtures: Man City (H), Bournemouth (A), Everton (H), Newcastle (A), Leeds (H)
Commentary: One of the most imbalanced starts in the league. Three top-half sides and limited attacking output expected. Best left alone — you’ll have time to reassess after GW10 if anything emerges.
Read in more detail: Wolves: 2025/26 Premier League Fixture Breakdown
Final Day Fixtures (GW38 May 24)
All games 4pm BST. Draft leagues will be decided here:
- Arsenal @ Palace
- United @ Brighton
- Chelsea @ Sunderland
- City v Villa
- Liverpool v Brentford
- Spurs v Everton
- West Ham v Leeds
- Forest v Bournemouth
- Burnley v Wolves
- Fulham v Newcastle
This will be the week of title twists, draft heartbreaks, and deleted apps.
And there you have it: everything you need to know about the fixtures for the upcoming Premier League season. We’ve put together a stack of more detailed articles, so if you want to deep dive into game difficulties, key fixtures or just a nose at your favourite teams, go check it out. Statr is going to be ready to play by then so make sure you are on the waiting list ready to go.
Jon Harrison, June 2025
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