The Premier League is finally back, and after a summer that somehow felt about 14 months long, we have actual league football to talk about again.
The 2026/27 campaign gets underway on Friday night, with Arsenal beginning their title defence against newly promoted Coventry City before the rest of Matchweek 1 rolls into action.
There is plenty to look forward to this weekend.
New managers are taking charge, promoted sides are getting their first taste of Premier League football, and plenty of new signings will be looking to make an immediate impact.
Then there is the usual opening-weekend optimism.
Every team has a clean slate. Every fan thinks this could be the year. Give it three weeks and half of them will already be furious.
Matchweek 1 can also be a nightmare for anyone trying to predict results.
Nobody has played a competitive league game yet – no, the Community Shield doesn’t count – Some squads are still changing, and new managers are still figuring out their best teams.
Still, there are a few games that stand out.
A couple of the bigger clubs have been handed favourable opening fixtures – on paper anyway – while there are also some interesting battles between newly promoted sides.
Anyway, let’s get into our acca picks for Matchweek 1, which hopefully isn’t let down by one team.
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Arsenal vs Coventry City
Friday, August 21 (15:00 EST/ 20:00 GMT)
Arsenal to win
Arsenal begin their title defence at home against Coventry City.
It is a fantastic occasion for Coventry, but this is also a seriously difficult way to return to the Premier League.
The Sky Blues are back in the top flight after 25 years away. They now have to walk into the Emirates and face the reigning champions on the opening night.
Good luck with that.
Arsenal will have plenty of pressure on them this season.
After winning their first Premier League title in 22 years last season, Mikel Arteta’s side now have to prove they can do it again.
That starts with winning games like this.
Coventry will have plenty of confidence, but Arsenal have a huge advantage in quality.
They dispatched Man City, granted it was a glorified friendly, but Coventry are also no Man City.
I expect the Gunners to control the game and create enough chances to win comfortably, giving Coventry that ‘welcome to the Premier League’ moment.
Hull City vs Man United
Saturday, August 22 (07:30 EST/ 12:30 GMT)
Man United to win
Manchester United begin their season with a trip to newly promoted Hull City.
Hull will be buzzing for this one.
They have waited a long time to get back to the Premier League, and hosting Manchester United in their first game makes it even better.
United, though, should be looking at this fixture and seeing three points.
Michael Carrick begins his first full Premier League campaign as United manager, and there will be plenty of attention on the club from the moment the season starts.
There is also a fair amount of pressure.
United cannot afford another slow start if they want to move back towards the top of the table.
Hull will make this uncomfortable.
They have nothing to lose, and that can make promoted sides dangerous early in the season.
But United have the better squad and should have enough quality to get the job done.
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
Saturday, August 22 (10:00 EST/ 15:00 GMT)
Sunderland to win
Now for the interesting one.
Sunderland travel to Ipswich Town in a meeting between two sides who are both tipped to be battling to stay in the league.
Ipswich returned to the top flight after just one season away.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are preparing for their second Premier League campaign after a Cinderella-story season last time out on their return.
This should be a really competitive game.
Ipswich have appointed Gary O’Neil, while Sunderland are looking to build on their excellent season last year.
I like Sunderland here.
They finished seventh last season and even secured European football, so there is no reason for them to be intimidated by a newly promoted side.
This could be scrappy.
It could also be the sort of game where one moment decides everything.
But Sunderland have enough about them to take home the three points.
Newcastle vs Liverpool
Sunday, August 23 (11:30 EST/ 16:30 GMT)
Liverpool to win
This is the leg of the parlay that makes me slightly nervous.
Liverpool heading to St James’ Park on the opening weekend is not exactly the fixture you would choose if you wanted a quiet Sunday.
Newcastle will have a huge home crowd behind them.
This is also the battle of two new managers, so there will naturally be questions about how quickly the teams adapt to their new style.
Still, I like Liverpool.
They have enough attacking quality to cause Newcastle serious problems, and Iraola’s high-energy style should make this an entertaining one.
The biggest concern is simply how quickly Liverpool can settle.
Newcastle at home can make life miserable for anyone. But you can’t ignore the amount of influential players they have lost.
They lost Captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali to Spurs and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona. They will be hard to replace.
Liverpool have the quality to win this, and I think they will.
It might not be comfortable.
Then again, if it was comfortable, it wouldn’t be the Premier League.
Fulham vs Chelsea
Monday, August 24 (15:00 EST/ 20:00 GMT)
Chelsea to win
Chelsea round off Matchweek 1 with a West London derby against Fulham.
Quite possibly the tamest derby about, but a derby nonetheless.
This is not the easiest opening fixture, but I still think Chelsea have enough to get the three points.
The Blues begin the season with Xabi Alonso as their new head coach, so there will be plenty of interest in how Chelsea look under their new manager.
Fulham themselves have a new Spaniard in the dugout. The man who took over at Real Madrid when Alonso was sacked, Alvaro Arbeloa.
Fulham know Chelsea well, and a London derby is rarely the sort of game where you can simply turn up and expect to win.
Chelsea should have too much quality, though.
The big question is whether they can put it together quickly.
There is plenty of talent in the squad, and this is exactly the type of game where the stronger team needs to show it.
I expect Chelsea to have enough to take the points.
Keep an eye out for our weekly Premier League accumulator tips throughout the season.
READ MORE: Premier League betting tips 2026/27: Five outright price boosts worth a look
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