How Liverpool, Tottenham and Crystal Palace could face whopping 68

How Liverpool, Tottenham and Crystal Palace could face whopping 68-game season in non-stop 2025/26 campaign ahead of World Cup

Published 13/08/2025 at 14:56 GMT+1

Ahead of a congested 2025/2026 campaign, we felt the time was right to find out how many games Liverpool, Manchester City and the other Premier League teams could play this season ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Not every team will play the same number of fixtures this term, with nine different English clubs set to take part in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Highlights: Palace win Community Shield on penalties after Ekitike scores first Liverpool goal

Video credit: TNT Sports

The 2025/2026 campaign looks set to be one of the busiest seasons ever, with nine English clubs competing on four fronts.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur will all take part in the UEFA Champions League as well as the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Premier League.

Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest can add the UEFA Europa League to their three domestic competitions, while FA Cup winners Crystal Palace will have a chance to add another trophy to their cabinet in the UEFA Conference League.

Premier League

Liverpool's to lose? Man Utd top six? What success looks like for your club - Part Two

an hour ago

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to take place next summer, there is more emphasis on player welfare than ever.

The iconic tournament, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, will get under way on June 11, 2026, less than three weeks after the final round of Premier League fixtures on May 24.

With that in mind, we thought the time was right to take a look at how many matches the Premier League clubs could end up playing this term.

‘Have to remember those moments’ - Merino motivated by ‘tough’ UCL semi-final defeat to PSG

Video credit: TNT Sports

How many matches will the teams that are not in Europe play?

Eleven Premier League clubs will be involved in three competitions this term.

That includes 20-time Premier League champions Manchester United, who have failed to qualify for Europe for the first time since the 2014/15 season.

Those 11 sides will contest 38 Premier League fixtures, and if one of them reaches the final of the FA Cup, they will add another six matches to their tally.

That is not all though. If that same team were to win the Carabao Cup, they would add seven more fixtures to their schedule - including a two-legged semi-final - taking their tally up to 51 matches.

How many matches will the teams that are in Europe play?

If you think that schedule is gruelling, spare a thought for the teams competing in Europe.

Not only will those sides have to play 38 Premier League games, but they could also compete in as many as 17 matches in Europe.

However, that will only happen if they reach the final and have to take part in a knockout phase play-off.

The teams in Europe will only play a maximum of six Carabao Cup matches, but if they reach the final of the FA Cup, they will contest another six fixtures.

That will take their potential total for the season up to 67 matches.

The exceptions to that rule are Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Tottenham.

Palace played Premier League champions Liverpool in the FA Community Shield, meaning The Reds could play 68 matches this season.

The Eagles could also play 68 matches this term.

That is because, having been demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League, they need to qualify for the league phase.

Oliver Glasner's side will play either Danish side Midtjylland or Fredrikstad from Norway.

However, there are two fewer league phase matches in the Conference League, meaning Palace's fixture total is also a maximum of 68.

Spurs could play 68 matches too, due to their involvement in the UEFA Super Cup, where they will face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.

Stream the 2025/26 Premier League and 2025/26 UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Premier League

Merino urges new-look Arsenal to 'build a fire' and 'adapt' style for Gyokeres

Premier League

Eze, Olise or Zaha? Ward names Palace’s 'unmatched' star from Premier League era

a day ago

Related Topics