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The red smoke from Liverpool's title celebrations has barely cleared but already it's time to turn our attention to next season following the release of the 2025-26 Premier League fixture list.

Having defied expectations to clinch a record-equaling 20th league title last term, will Arne Slot's side have what it takes to go and defend their crown, or will Arsenal -- after three consecutive second-place finishes -- finally get over the line? The Gunners will certainly need to be at their best to be up there from the start.

Having struggled to hit their usual heights last season, will Manchester City return to the formidable winning machine that has consistently swept all before them over the past decade, or will the departure of the talismanic Kevin De Bruyne prove a significant blow for Pep Guardiola's side?

Like City, Enzo Maresca's Chelsea are competing at the Club World Cup in the United States. Can they use the extra minutes to give them a head start when they return to English soil, or will their extended season take its toll?

A new era begins at Tottenham Hotspur, with former Brentford boss Thomas Frank replacing the sacked Ange Postecoglou. And with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest all having been in the mix for Champions League qualification last season, the battle for a top-four spot could be more competitive than ever.

There's plenty of questions to be answered in the months ahead, and the release of the match schedule offers the chance for some preseason speculation. Here are the highlights of the 2024-25 Premier League fixture list.

Editor's note: dates are subject to change once matches have been selected for live domestic broadcast

Arsenal get tricky start but will be happy with run-in

Arsenal were handed a tricky start to last season and the upcoming campaign is no different. In their opening six fixtures they face four teams who were fighting for Champions League football last season, two of which are expected title rivals, plus they have to go to Man United.

While facing United at Old Trafford hasn't been the scariest proposition in recent years, Arteta might well be slightly anxious that his side have to travel to Manchester for their season opener.

Perhaps even more concerning is the fact that their next away game is against Liverpool at Anfield; a venue where they haven't won in the Premier League since September 2012. Breaking that curse, though, would be a fine way to mark Arsenal out as early title favourites.

Certainly, they will be given the chance to make a statement, with the visit of Nottingham Forest to the Emirates on the weekend of Sept. 13 followed by the visit of Manchester City before then a trip to Newcastle.

Should they get themselves into a strong position, Arsenal have a relatively kind run-in, with their final four games comprising home clashes with Fulham and Burnley plus trips to West Ham United and Crystal Palace.

Liverpool handed tough start to title defence

At the start of last season, Liverpool were something of an unknown quantity. With Arne Slot coming in to replace Jurgen Klopp, there were concerns that it would take some time for the Reds to find their feet. Few people predicted that Liverpool would win the Premier League at a canter, but Slot made an exceptional start at Anfield.

Now though, the pressure is on.

Liverpool have marked themselves out as the team to beat; a fact that is only given more credence by the club's aggressive approach in the transfer market. The champions have already signed Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong, with teammate Florian Wirtz also set to join him on Merseyside after a club-record deal was agreed last week.

And it will be straight in at the deep end for Wirtz & co., with Liverpool's first away game of the season against Newcastle followed up by that titanic clash with Arsenal at Anfield. The first Merseyside derby of the season will take place when Everton visit Anfield on the weekend of Sept. 20, while the Reds will host bitter rivals Manchester United on the weekend of Oct. 18.

Liverpool arguably have the toughest end to the season of any of the likely title contenders, with Everton, Man United, Chelsea and Aston Villa among their final six opponents. However, if they are as dominant as they were last season, the title could already be wrapped up by then.

Nowhere to hide for Manchester United

Last season was one to forget to Manchester United and, if manager Ruben Amorim was hoping for a favourable run of fixtures to ease him into the new campaign, he'll surely be disappointed.

United have been handed the marquee fixture of the opening weekend, with title-chasing Arsenal to travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, Aug. 17. A victory over Arteta's side would be a huge statement of intent from Amorim's men, however a bruising defeat could set the tone for another difficult season.

United also have a tricky pair of features to navigate in September, with a trip to face Manchester City at the Etihad on the weekend of Sept. 13 followed by the visit of Chelsea. Amorim's side will have to wait until the weekend of May 2 to welcome champions Liverpool to Old Trafford, with United's final two fixtures -- Nottingham Forest at home on May 17. and Brighton & Hove Albion away on May 24 -- potentially decisive in the race for European qualification.

Chelsea have a great opportunity

Chelsea ended last season with the first trophy of the Maresca era by beating Real Betis in the Conference League final, but the club will no doubt have their sights set on more prestigious honours this time.

And the fixture list has given the club the chance to make a really strong start to the campaign with Chelsea's opening clash at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, Aug. 17 set to be followed by match-ups with West Ham, Fulham and Brentford.

While there are no easy games in the Premier League, Chelsea have been handed a fairly kind start to the season -- though it is packed with London derbies.

With the Club World Cup offering teams the chance to build up some preseason momentum, Maresca's side could mark themselves out as the team to watch by hitting the ground running in the top flight.

h3Tottenham could make bright start to Frank era

It's the dawn of yet another new era for Tottenham Hotspur. Despite guiding to the club to their first trophy in 17 years by beating Manchester United in last season's Europa League final, Postecoglou was sacked following a dismal campaign in the Premier League.

The appointment of Frank as his replacement is, on paper, a shrewd one. The Dane consistently allowed Brentford to punch above their weight during his seven years at the club and is a dynamic, tactically astute coach.

While managing a club like Tottenham comes with added pressure, Frank does have the opportunity to make a fine start to the campaign, with Spurs to host newly promoted Burnley at home on the opening weekend.

In fact, Manchester City -- who host Tottenham at the Etihad on the second weekend -- are the only Big Six side Spurs face before November.

The platform is there for the club to start their new era with a bang, although it should be noted that Postecoglou made an excellent start to his own Spurs tenure before things started to unravel.

When are the biggest games?

The beauty of the Premier League is that nearly every game has the potential to be a thriller, but there are some match-ups that particularly catch the eye.

Manchester United vs Arsenal is the first marquee fixture on the opening weekend, while the visit of United to Anfield on the weekend of Oct. 18 always whets the appetite.

In terms of the title race, Liverpool will host Arsenal on the weekend of Aug. 30 before Arteta's side welcome the champions to the Emirates on the weekend of Jan. 7.

Manchester City and Liverpool will face off on the weekends of Nov. 8 and Feb. 7, while Arsenal and City will meet on the weekends of Sept. 20 and April 18.

The North London derby -- on the weekends of Nov. 22 at the Emirates and Feb. 21 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium -- is always tasty, while the Merseyside derby will take place on the weekends of Sept. 20 at Anfield and April 18 at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Where will the Premier League trophy be lifted?

While it seems much too early to start pontificating on the destination of the Premier League trophy, we're going to do it anyway.

Should Liverpool defend their crown, they will celebrate in front of their home fans when they welcome Brentford to Anfield on the final day. If Arsenal manage to end their 21-year wait for the league title, they will lift the trophy at Selhurst Park where they will take on Crystal Palace.

Manchester City will harbour ambitions of wrestling back their crown and are at home to Aston Villa on the closing weekend, while Chelsea finish their season away to Sunderland.

Of course, the title could end up elsewhere, with the competitiveness of the Premier League growing stronger by the year. Let the games begin.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has described the recent decision to sack former manager Ange Postecoglou as "emotionally difficult."

The 59-year-old guided Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years, beating Manchester United in last month's Europa League final. The result also secured Champions League qualification for next season but was not enough to save Postecoglou's job.

"I'm very grateful to Ange," Levy told the club's in-house media channels. "I don't regret appointing Ange. In his first season we finished fifth and in the second season we were over the moon to win a trophy but we need to compete in all competitions. We felt that we needed a change.

"I have got an excellent relationship with him and told him he will always be a part of our history. Himself and his family are always welcome back.

"It was a collective decision. It wasn't my decision. We do everything together. Emotionally it was difficult but we believe we have made the right decision for the club."

While he helped end the club's trophy drought, Postecoglou also oversaw 22 league defeats -- the worst Premier League record for a team to avoid relegation -- as Tottenham finished a lowly 17th in the table.

Last week, Tottenham announced the appointment of former Brentford boss Thomas Frank as the club's new manager.

"We ran a really, really thorough process -- at speed," Spurs' new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham said while seated alongside Levy.

"We defined 10 characteristics that we think are important to be a successful manager at Tottenham Hotspur, we analysed in real detail, through our technical staff, more than 30 candidates.

"We had a lot of time with the shortlist and Thomas was absolutely the number one candidate. We could not be more excited to have him join the club.

"One of the things I've excited about is that he is an outstanding developer of young players so I really look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad we have here."

Hugo Lloris believes his former club Tottenham Hotspur have lifted a weight off their shoulders after winning the Europa League and praised Ange Postecoglou for ending their 17-year wait for silverware.

The 38-year-old goalkeeper departed Spurs in February 2024 after making 447 appearances across 11 years and is set to start for Los Angeles FC in Monday's FIFA Club World Cup clash against Chelsea.

Lloris, who previously captained Tottenham, revealed his delight at their 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao last month which ultimately was not enough to convince the Spurs hierarchy to keep Postecoglou after their worst-ever Premier League season was confirmed with a 17th-place finish.

"I am really pleased," Lloris said of Tottenham's triumph. "I am really happy for the club, for the people at the club, for the players.

"We ran many, many years after this trophy and finally they got it and I think they deserve it.

"Hopefully it will make their shoulders a little bit lighter for the future and I think it is also the moment to build on this success for Spurs. Even if I am not a Spurs player, I still follow the news, the team and the results."

Postecoglou was last week replaced by Thomas Frank as head coach and when asked whether the decision surprised him, Lloris said: "No, nothing surprises me in football. But at the same time, it is hard to say something because I am on the other side. I don't know what happened inside the club so it really hard for me to judge.

"If they made this decision it is because they believe there is another option which is better for the future of the club.

"What Ange Postecoglou did was just remarkable. He brought this Europa League trophy, he brought a lot of joy to the Spurs community, a lot of pride as well and we all have to be thankful for that.

"I am not here to discuss about the choice [of Tottenham's new head coach]. He is a well-respected coach, He did an amazing job with Brentford. Now, like every coach, when you arrive in a new club, there is a new environment which you have to embrace. But if the club decided to appoint him, it is probably because they decide it is the best for the future."

Reflecting further on Tottenham's achievement, Lloris continued: "They had a really hard season. They had a lot of injuries as well that affected the team and performances and I think in the second part of the season, it looks like they decided to go all-in for the Europa League.

"They made it and you just have to congratulate them because it is another way to go to the Champions League. At the end of the day, I don't know, if you finish 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th and if you get a chance to win a trophy on the other hand, it is just an amazing achievement.

"I was part of a really competitive team for many years and the target was to reach the top four but at which price? We could not find a way to win a cup, a league cup or even a Europa League cup but we managed to go and get the top four for many years. I don't know, it is all about the optics of the club."

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Mathys Tel on a permanent transfer from Bayern Munich, the Premier League club has announced.

Sources told ESPN that Spurs agreed a fee of €40 million ($46.2m), including bonuses with Bayern for the forward.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Spurs and was part of the team that ended the club's 17-year trophy drought with success in the Europa League.

Tel scored two goals and registered one assist in 13 matches for the north London club.

The France under-21 international's future was unclear after the coach who signed him at Spurs, Ange Postecoglou, was relieved of his duties 16 days after the Europa League final victory over Manchester United in Bilbao.

But Tel has become new boss Thomas Frank's first signing since the former Brentford manager was named as Postecoglou's successor.

Spurs have confirmed that he has signed a contract until 2031.

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich to sign France under-21 international Mathys Tel on a permanent transfer, sources confirmed to ESPN.

After being loaned to Spurs in January with an option to buy of €60 million, the 20-year-old will now move permanently to the Europa League winners for a reduced fee of €40 million, including bonuses, after successful negotiations between the two clubs.

The Paris-born forward had already agreed personal terms with Tottenham and will sign a contract until June 2031.

Tel scored three goals and added one assist in 20 games in all competitions during his loan spell at Spurs. But new manager Thomas Frank made the decision to make him the first signing of his tenure.

Thomas Frank has penned an emotional letter to Brentford following the confirmation of his departure after nine years with the club.

The Danish manager was named the new Tottenham Hotspur boss on Thursday following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou last week.

Frank joined Brentford in 2016 as an assistant manager before being promoted to head coach in 2018. He guided the club to the Premier League in 2021 for the first time in their history and has successfully kept them in the top flight since.

"The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters," he said in a statement on Friday.

"I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.

"For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community - it's an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you.

Brentford were in contention for a first-ever European place finish last season before eventually falling short and ending the season in 10th place.

Their push for Europe was reflective of the way the club Frank once dubbed "just a bus stop in Hounslow" routinely punched above their weight despite their meagre resources.

"Whatever we have achieved, we have achieved together, and our success is built on unity, spirit, courage and ambition at every level of the club and amongst the fans," he said.

"Everybody has contributed, and every contribution has been invaluable. I am not just leaving a football club, I am saying goodbye to friends whose support through good and bad times I will carry with me always.

"I would like to say a special word of thanks to [owner] Matthew Benham. His trust and friendship have meant so much and the fact he gave me a chance in English football means I will always owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Matt.

"So, while this is a goodbye, I hope the relationships I have built with everybody will be lasting ones and, of course, we will meet again in the wonderful world of football."

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Thomas Frank as the club's new head coach after prying the manager away from his previous post at Brentford.

Spurs made the announcement on Thursday.

ESPN reported that Spurs were hopeful of naming Frank, 51, as Ange Postecoglou's successor after also considering Fulham boss Marco Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola.

Postecoglou was sacked just 16 days after leading Spurs to Europa League glory, ending a 17-year wait for silverware with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao.

"In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game," a club statement said. "He has a proven track record in player and squad development and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead."

Postecoglou's achievement in the Europa League was overshadowed by a woeful Premier League season which saw Tottenham finish 17th with 22 defeats, their worst campaign since the club were relegated in 1977.

And Frank has now made the move across London after spending seven years at Brentford. He guided the club to promotion from the Championship in 2021 after Brentford beat Swansea City in the 2021 Championship playoff final.

Under the Danish head coach, Brentford have become an established Premier League team with a reputation for high intensity, forward-thinking football.

In their four Premier League seasons under Frank, Brentford finished 13th, 9th, 16th and 10th. Last term only four teams scored more than their 66 goals.

A keen user of player data, Frank and his backroom staff have proved especially adept at unearthing gems and moving those players on for huge profits, such as forwards Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Saïd Benrahma, plus goalkeeper David Raya

Despite the outgoings, Brentford have managed to remain competitive in the top flight under Frank and last season were in the mix for European qualification.

Forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa scored 39 Premier League goals between them last season and both could well be Spurs targets during the close season.

Frank has gained a reputation for his attention to detail and it is no surprise that his Brentford side scored inside 40 seconds in three successive league games last season.

"We have a kickoff strategy and we tweak it from game to game. And as a mindset and philosophy, we like to get straight on the front foot and be positive," Frank said at the time.

He now faces a completely different challenge at Tottenham and a fast start to his reign will be important to win over fans who felt Postecoglou should have been rewarded for winning a trophy by being given another season at the helm.

Brentford assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton are also joining Frank at Spurs, along with Andreas Georgson from Manchester United.

Information from Reuters was used in this story.

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Thomas Frank as the club's new head coach after prying the manager away from his previous post at Brentford.

Spurs made the announcement on Thursday.

ESPN reported that Spurs were hopeful of naming Frank, 51, as Ange Postecoglou's successor after also considering Fulham boss Marco Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola.

Postecoglou was sacked just 16 days after leading Spurs to Europa League glory, ending a 17-year wait for silverware with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao.

"In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game," a club statement said. "He has a proven track record in player and squad development and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead."

Postecoglou's achievement in the Europa League was overshadowed by a woeful Premier League season which saw Tottenham finish 17th with 22 defeats, their worst campaign since the club were relegated in 1977.

And Frank has now made the move across London after spending seven years at Brentford. He guided the club to promotion from the Championship in 2021 after Brentford beat Swansea City in the 2021 Championship playoff final.

Under the Danish head coach, Brentford have become an established Premier League team with a reputation for high intensity, forward-thinking football.

In their four Premier League seasons under Frank, Brentford finished 13th, 9th, 16th and 10th. Last term only four teams scored more than their 66 goals.

A keen user of player data, Frank and his backroom staff have proved especially adept at unearthing gems and moving those players on for huge profits, such as forwards Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Saïd Benrahma, plus goalkeeper David Raya

Despite the outgoings, Brentford have managed to remain competitive in the top flight under Frank and last season were in the mix for European qualification.

Forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa scored 39 Premier League goals between them last season and both could well be Spurs targets during the close season.

Frank has gained a reputation for his attention to detail and it is no surprise that his Brentford side scored inside 40 seconds in three successive league games last season.

"We have a kickoff strategy and we tweak it from game to game. And as a mindset and philosophy, we like to get straight on the front foot and be positive," Frank said at the time.

He now faces a completely different challenge at Tottenham and a fast start to his reign will be important to win over fans who felt Postecoglou should have been rewarded for winning a trophy by being given another season at the helm.

Brentford assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton are also joining Frank at Spurs, along with Andreas Georgson from Manchester United.

Information from Reuters was used in this story.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has described the decision to sack manager Ange Postecoglou as "strange" in light of him ending the club's 17-year trophy drought, adding that it was the "club's choice."

Postecoglou made good on his long-standing record that he would win a trophy in his second season at the club by lifting the Europa League last month. However, it was not enough to save him his job, with the board looking unfavourably on Spurs finishing 17th in the Premier League.

"That was ultimately a choice from the club," he told Voetbal Zone. "We, as players, have little to say about that. Of course, he is the first coach in a long time who has won a trophy and had success at Spurs. So if you look at it that way, it is of course a strange choice.

"It is a choice from the club about which we have little to say, so we will see what happens now. Of course, we see some rumours about the Brentford head coach [Thomas Frank], who it will probably be. So yes, a choice from the club about which we have little to say."

Van de Ven is not the only player to have wished Postecoglou well on his way out. Son Heung-Min, Yves Bissouma, Pedro Porro, Guglielmo Vicario and Dominic Solanke are among the players to have shown their appreciation for the Australian coach.

"I think many of the players got along with [Postecoglou] well. And of course, what I say, he is the first coach who has brought success to Spurs in a long time," Van de Ven added. "That also shows that he has a certain quality. That also means that he has a winning mentality, 100%.

"From that, you would of course say that it is strange that he was fired. What we have shown in the Premier League is, of course, unacceptable. That would, of course, have multiple factors, but that would not only have been the coach."

Tottenham Hotspur are increasingly hopeful of appointing Thomas Frank as their new head coach, sources have told ESPN.

Spurs are expected to step up discussions with Brentford over a compensation package for the 51-year-old, who is willing to move across London and wants to take several backroom staff members with him.

One source told ESPN there is a release fee within Frank's Brentford contract which could be worth more than £10 million ($13.5m).

Talks will center on whether that figure will be met in full or a compromise can be reached but there is now optimism that Frank could soon become Ange Postecoglou's successor.

Postecoglou was sacked on Friday just 16 days after leading Spurs to Europa League glory, ending a 17-year wait for silverware with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao.

The club suffered their worst-ever Premier League season at the same time, slumping to 22 defeats -- a record for a team that was not relegated -- and finished in 17th place.