Premier League Is Back: Complete Guide to Matchweek One 2026/27

The wait is over. The 2026/27 Premier League season gets underway this weekend, giving football fans in South Africa another reason to clear their Saturday and Sunday schedules.

After an action-packed summer that included the 2026 FIFA World Cup and plenty of transfer drama, the focus now switches back to English club football. The opening Premier League fixtures bring together defending champions Arsenal, three newly promoted clubs and several teams starting new eras under new managers.

For South African football fans watching on SuperSport, Matchweek 1 has plenty to get excited about, with Arsenal opening their title defence against Coventry City before a huge Newcastle United vs Liverpool clash rounds off Sunday’s action.

Here is everything you need to know about the Premier League Matchweek 1 fixtures, including South African kickoff times, new clubs, managers, transfers and our match predictions.

The Newly Promoted Premier League Clubs

Three new teams join the Premier League for the 2026/27 season: Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City.

Coventry return to the top flight after a 25-year absence and will have to face the toughest possible opening assignment. The Championship winners travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on defending champions Arsenal on Friday night.

Ipswich Town make an immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated in 2024/25. The Tractor Boys secured promotion during the 2025/26 Championship campaign and have appointed former Wolves and Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil to lead their return to the top flight.

Hull City complete the promoted trio after winning the Championship play-off final. The Tigers will begin life back in the Premier League at home to Manchester United.

The three promoted sides replace Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and West Ham United, who were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2025/26 season.

It is a tough road ahead. Recent history shows just how difficult it is for promoted clubs to survive in the Premier League, although Sunderland’s seventh-place finish last season provides some encouragement for the newcomers.

A Summer of Big Transfers

The Premier League transfer window has once again produced some eye-watering numbers.

Chelsea have been among the biggest spenders, with England international Morgan Rogers arriving from Aston Villa in a British-record deal reported at £117 million. Geovany Quenda and Marco Palestra have also joined the Blues as new manager Xabi Alonso begins his Stamford Bridge reign.

Manchester City have also made a major statement. Elliot Anderson arrived from Nottingham Forest for around £116 million, breaking City’s club transfer record. The signing is part of a major rebuild following Pep Guardiola’s departure and Enzo Maresca’s appointment as the new City manager.

Tottenham Hotspur have been equally aggressive. Roberto De Zerbi has overseen a significant rebuild, with Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke among the arrivals.

Manchester United have strengthened their midfield with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, while Liverpool have entered a new era under former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. Liverpool have added French defender Jeremy Jacquet and Spanish forward Victor Munoz, while also bringing in Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona.

With so many new managers and new signings, predicting how quickly these teams will click is one of the biggest talking points heading into the new Premier League season.

Premier League Matchweek 1 Fixtures

Here are all 10 Premier League Matchweek 1 fixtures, with South African Standard Time (SAST) included.

South Africa is one hour ahead of the UK during the Premier League’s August fixtures.

Friday, 21 August

Arsenal vs Coventry City – 20:00 UK / 21:00 SAST

Saturday, 22 August

Hull City vs Manchester United – 12:30 UK / 13:30 SAST

Everton vs Crystal Palace – 15:00 UK / 16:00 SAST

Ipswich Town vs Sunderland – 15:00 UK / 16:00 SAST

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United – 15:00 UK / 16:00 SAST

Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur – 17:30 UK / 18:30 SAST

Sunday, 23 August

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa – 14:00 UK / 15:00 SAST

Manchester City vs Bournemouth – 14:00 UK / 15:00 SAST

Newcastle United vs Liverpool – 16:30 UK / 17:30 SAST

Monday, 24 August

Fulham vs Chelsea – 20:00 UK / 21:00 SAST

The Premier League’s official fixture list confirms all 10 opening-round matches, although fixtures can still be changed for broadcast or other scheduling reasons.

Premier League Matchweek 1 Predictions

Arsenal vs Coventry City

The defending champions could hardly have asked for a more interesting opening fixture. Arsenal begin their title defence at home against Championship winners Coventry.

Frank Lampard’s Coventry deserve plenty of credit for getting back into the Premier League, but the Emirates is a brutal place to start.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City

Hull City vs Manchester United

Hull’s return to the Premier League starts with a massive test against Manchester United.

United have strengthened their midfield with Tielemans and Andrey Santos and should have enough quality to take three points, although Hull’s home support could make this uncomfortable.

Prediction: Hull City 1-2 Manchester United

Everton vs Crystal Palace

This could be one of those classic opening-day matches where neither team wants to give too much away.

Both Everton and Crystal Palace have enough defensive organisation to make this a tight contest.

Prediction: Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace

Ipswich Town vs Sunderland

Ipswich will want to make home advantage count, while Sunderland arrive knowing that their seventh-place Premier League finish last season showed promoted clubs can surprise people.

Two clubs with plenty of recent promotion history meet at Portman Road.

Prediction: Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United

Forest have plenty of attacking quality but face a Leeds side that has strengthened during the summer.

This could be an entertaining match with both teams capable of finding the net.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds United

Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham begin the Roberto De Zerbi era away at Brentford.

Spurs have made some serious moves in the transfer market, including bringing Sandro Tonali and Andy Robertson to north London. It could take time for the new-look squad to settle, but there is enough quality to edge this one.

Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa

Two sides that favour progressive football meet on the south coast.

Aston Villa have European ambitions again, while Brighton remain one of the Premier League’s most unpredictable teams. Expect an open game.

Prediction: Brighton 2-2 Aston Villa

Manchester City vs Bournemouth

This is the beginning of the Enzo Maresca era at Manchester City.

City have already spent heavily on their rebuild, including the British-record club fee for Elliot Anderson. The Community Shield defeat to Arsenal showed there is still work to do, but Bournemouth face a huge challenge at the Etihad.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth

Newcastle United vs Liverpool

This is the standout fixture of Matchweek 1.

Liverpool’s first competitive match under Andoni Iraola comes at St James’ Park, where Newcastle will provide an immediate examination of the new Liverpool boss.

The Reds have undergone significant changes this summer, making this one particularly difficult to call.

Prediction: Newcastle United 1-2 LiverpoolFulham vs Chelsea

The first Monday-night Premier League match of the season is a London derby.

Chelsea begin the Xabi Alonso era at Craven Cottage, with the former Real Madrid boss inheriting a squad packed with young talent and several major new additions.

Chelsea should have enough attacking quality to start their campaign with three points.

Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea

Where to Watch the Premier League in South Africa

For Premier League fans in South Africa, SuperSport remains the place to follow the action. SuperSport’s current Premier League fixture listings include all 10 Matchweek 1 matches, including Arsenal vs Coventry, Newcastle vs Liverpool and Fulham vs Chelsea.

That means South African football fans can settle in for a full weekend of Premier League action, with the opening round spread from Friday night through to Monday evening.

The new season also gives South African viewers plenty to keep an eye on. Arsenal are defending their Premier League title, Manchester City are beginning life after Guardiola, Liverpool have a new manager, Chelsea have Xabi Alonso and three promoted clubs are trying to establish themselves in the top flight.

A New Premier League Season Starts Now

The 2026/27 Premier League season already feels different.

There are new managers at some of England’s biggest clubs, three new teams in the division and a transfer window that has seen some enormous fees.

For South African football fans, the opening weekend offers a bit of everything: title contenders, new managers, promoted clubs, huge transfers and one of the world’s most popular football leagues back on the television.

The first whistle is almost here. Now we find out which of these new-look Premier League teams are ready to hit the ground running.