Premier League fixtures 2026-27: Arsenal start against Coventry, Newcastle host Liverpool - ESPN

Arsenal will begin their Premier League title defence against newly-promoted Coventry City in north London, while Liverpool travel to face Newcastle in the pick of the 2026-27 opening-day fixtures.

Mikel Arteta's team ended the club's 22-year wait for the league title as they held off Manchester City's challenge to lift the Premier League trophy on the final day of last season at Selhurst Park. They kick off the new campaign on Friday, Aug. 21.

Arsenal face Aston Villa on the second match week of the new campaign before hosting Chelsea in north London the following week. The potentially tricky opening weeks of the new season will perhaps have Arsenal supporters thinking of last year when their team were faced with trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James' Park, as well as an early showdown with City, before the end of September.

The Gunners don't face City until the end of November this time around. In a break from the norm, Arsenal travel to face Tottenham in the first north London derby of the season at the beginning of December, before hosting their archrivals on May 1.

Frank Lampard's Coventry City are returning to the top flight for the first time since 2001, but Arteta's side will pose a tough challenge at the Emirates first up.

Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola's first match in charge of Liverpool will be at St James' Park. The new Red boss could do worse than achieve a repeat of the dramatic 3-2 victory achieved by Arne Slot's team in the second matchweek of last season.

Iraola is scheduled to return to Bournemouth on Sept. 19, while Liverpool host The Cherries on the final day of the season.

The Spanish coach will get his first taste of Liverpool's rivalry with Manchester United when the teams face off in