The Premier League is back.
After weeks of transfers, managerial changes, pre-season predictions and everyone convincing themselves that this is finally going to be their club’s year, we can stop guessing about what teams might look like and actually see them on the pitch.
Well… almost.
Before the opening weekend gets underway, it’s time for me to put my neck on the line and predict all 10 matches from the first round of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
There are some fascinating games to start the campaign, beginning with champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City on Friday night and ending with a West London derby between Fulham and Chelsea on Monday.
Here’s how I think Round 1 will play out.
Arsenal v Coventry City
What a way to begin the new Premier League season.
The reigning Premier League champions against the Championship winners, and while I expect Arsenal to ultimately come away with a fairly convincing scoreline, I don’t think the match itself will necessarily be as comfortable as 3-1 suggests.
Opening games are strange affairs. Both teams desperately want to start well, nobody wants to immediately find themselves playing catch-up and there can naturally be a few nerves.
Coventry will arrive at the Emirates with nothing to lose and I think they’ll make Arsenal work for it. There should be plenty of excitement surrounding their return to the Premier League and I can see them causing Arsenal a few problems.
Eventually, though, the quality of the champions should tell.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Coventry City
Hull City v Manchester United
I’m expecting this to be one of the more routine victories of the opening weekend.
There will obviously be huge excitement around Hull with Premier League football returning, but I think Manchester United simply have too much quality and should be able to control the game.
The bigger story for me is United themselves.
This is Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge, so there will be plenty of attention on how he sets his team up and whether United can build on the progress made under him last season.
A promoted team away from home can sometimes be an awkward opening fixture, particularly with the crowd behind them, but I’m backing United to take the sting out of the occasion and start Carrick’s first full campaign with an emphatic victory.
Prediction: Hull City 0-3 Manchester United
Everton v Crystal Palace
This has the makings of a really tight game.
I don’t think there’s an enormous amount separating Everton and Crystal Palace, so home advantage could end up being the deciding factor.
Everton will have the backing of their supporters at Hill Dickinson Stadium, their home since the start of the 2025/26 season, and I think that energy can help drag them over the line.
Palace should make it difficult and I wouldn’t be surprised if this remains level deep into the second half, but I’m giving Everton the edge.
It might not be pretty, and there probably won’t be much between them, but I think the home crowd will ultimately make the difference.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace
Ipswich Town v Sunderland
Another game where I’m expecting very little between the two sides.
Ipswich will want to make the most of being at home, but I fancy Sunderland to nick this one late on.
Sunderland were one of the stories of last season, finishing seventh and securing Europa League football, and I think they come into this fixture as the stronger of these two teams.
Europe could become an extra complication for Sunderland as the season progresses, particularly once the fixtures begin piling up, but that isn’t an issue yet.
With both teams likely to be desperate simply to get something on the board in the opening game, I’m expecting a cagey encounter decided by one moment.
I’m backing that moment to belong to Sunderland.
Prediction: Ipswich Town 0-1 Sunderland
Nottingham Forest v Leeds United
I’ll be surprised if this is the game people are rushing to watch back on Match of the Day.
I see Forest and Leeds as fairly evenly matched heading into the opening weekend, and that has me leaning towards a draw.
Forest are beginning a new chapter under Oliver Glasner and have also lost Elliott Anderson during another summer of change, so there could naturally be a period of adjustment.
Leeds, meanwhile, have recruited well enough for me to think they can go to the City Ground and compete.
Do I think they’ve strengthened enough to go there and win? Not quite.
This feels like a game where both sides may be more concerned about not losing their opener than really going for the throat.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds United
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
This could be one of the most entertaining games of Round 1.
I like watching both of these sides and Brentford are rarely afraid to make games open, which should give Tottenham opportunities as well.
Spurs have been heavily backed in the transfer market this summer, spending significant money on their squad, and that investment is one of the reasons I’m tipping them to come out on top.
I don’t think Brentford will make life easy for them. In fact, I can see both sides creating plenty of chances and the game going backwards and forwards.
But if Tottenham want to make a serious improvement this season, these are the types of matches where that investment needs to make a difference.
I think it will.
Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
From one potentially open game to one I expect to be anything but.
I’m going for a low-key draw between Brighton and Aston Villa with very few clear-cut chances.
Neither team particularly excites me heading into the new season, and Villa have had to deal with significant changes to their squad. Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans are among the important players to have departed over the summer.
There is still plenty of quality within Unai Emery’s side, but losing influential players and then trying to integrate replacements can take time.
Brighton being at home makes it difficult for me to back Villa, but I’m equally not convinced enough by Brighton to predict a home victory.
One goal apiece. Share the points. Move on.
Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Aston Villa
Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth
Normally, predicting Manchester City at home to Bournemouth would probably involve asking how many City are going to score.
Not this time.
City look wounded to me.
Pep Guardiola has gone, Enzo Maresca has taken over and there have been major changes around the squad. Their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield only added to my feeling that this could be a difficult season by Manchester City’s incredibly high standards.
I certainly don’t expect them to blow Bournemouth away on the opening weekend.
What I do still expect, though, is for City to have enough quality to find a way.
It might be scrappy. It might take a late goal. It might involve Bournemouth wondering how they’ve left the Etihad with nothing.
But I’m backing City to begin this new era with three points.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-0 AFC Bournemouth
Newcastle United v Liverpool
There are simply too many unknowns surrounding Newcastle for me going into this season.
Eddie Howe has departed, Matthias Jaissle has taken over and huge players including Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimarães have left St James’ Park. That is an enormous amount of change in one summer.
Maybe Newcastle surprise people and their rebuild clicks immediately, but asking a new-look side to begin against Liverpool feels particularly difficult.
Liverpool have had changes of their own, but I still think there is enough attacking firepower in their team to expose a Newcastle side that is trying to establish a new identity.
St James’ Park will make it an occasion, but I’m backing Liverpool to weather that early pressure and eventually take control.
Prediction: Newcastle United 0-2 Liverpool
Fulham v Chelsea
And we finish Round 1 with a London derby.
As a Chelsea supporter, perhaps there’s a little bit of heart involved here, but I genuinely think Chelsea will be up for this.
Both clubs have recruited well over the summer, but there is an element of the unknown surrounding Fulham following the departure of Marco Silva and the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa. Chelsea are also starting a new era under Xabi Alonso, which adds another layer to an already interesting derby.
Unlike some of the tighter matches I’m predicting this weekend, I think this one could really open up.
Fulham being at home should mean they attack Chelsea rather than simply sitting deep, and that could create an entertaining end-to-end game.
I fancy Chelsea’s quality to ultimately be the difference.
Goals, a London derby and hopefully — from my point of view — three points to start the season.
Prediction: Fulham 1-3 Chelsea
Round 1 Predictions
So there we have it.
I’m expecting plenty of opening-weekend nerves, a few close encounters and perhaps fewer goals than we might normally associate with the Premier League.
My predictions in full:
Arsenal 3-1 Coventry City
Hull City 0-3 Manchester United
Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace
Ipswich Town 0-1 Sunderland
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds United
Brentford 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Aston Villa
Manchester City 1-0 AFC Bournemouth
Newcastle United 0-2 Liverpool
Fulham 1-3 Chelsea
Predictions before a ball has been kicked are always dangerous — particularly after a summer in which so many Premier League clubs have changed managers, players and direction.
But that’s half the fun.
By Monday night, I’ll either look like I know exactly what I’m talking about… or this article will already have aged terribly.
Welcome back, Premier League.