The Premier League’s new campaign starts tonight at Anfield, where defending champions Liverpool open against Bournemouth (20:00 UK). The first round also brings Villa–Newcastle (Sat 12:30), Spurs–Burnley and Wolves–Man City (Sat 17:30), Chelsea–Palace and Forest–Brentford (Sun), with Leeds–Everton closing the weekend under the lights on Monday. Full dates and broadcasters for Matchweek 1 are confirmed by the league’s fixture release. Premier League
A new era on TV: more live games than ever
From this season, the UK broadcast landscape changes dramatically. Sky Sports now holds four live packages totaling a minimum of 215 matches per season, TNT Sports carries 52 matches (including the Saturday 12:30 slot), and BBC keeps Match of the Day highlights. Crucially, for the first time every match outside the Saturday 3pm blackout will be televised live in the UK—plus all 10 games on the final day. Premier League
What’s new in the Laws (and how games will feel different)
The league has codified several IFAB changes and its own “Football Principles” for officiating:
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Eight-second goalkeeper rule: hold the ball in control inside the box longer than eight seconds and it’s a corner to the opposition. Referees visibly count down the final five seconds; persistent offences escalate to a caution. Premier League
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“Captains Only” approach: when invoked, only the captain (or a nominated outfielder if the captain is the keeper) may speak to the referee. Premier League
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Dropped-ball restarts clarified; accidental double-touch penalties are retaken; and inadvertent non-player touches can mean an indirect free-kick. Premier League
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VAR upgrades: semi-automated offside (SAOT) will run all season, and referees will announce VAR decisions over the PA (except factual offsides), with big-screen explanations for disallowed goals—steps aimed at cutting delays and improving transparency. Premier League
Who’s in, who’s out
Three clubs return to the Premier League: Leeds United and Burnley came up automatically in April, while Sunderland sealed promotion with a 95th-minute winner in the play-off final at Wembley. They replace Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton, all relegated last season. Premier League+2Premier League+2
The champions’ target on their backs
Liverpool arrive as reigning champions—Arne Slot’s side clinched the 2024/25 title on April 27 with a 5–1 win over Spurs, securing a record-equalling 20th English league crown. The opener against Bournemouth doubles as an early check on how smoothly the champions transition into a season with stricter time-wasting enforcement and more televised scrutiny. Premier League
Weekend storylines to track
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Heavyweight Sunday: Old Trafford stages Manchester United vs Arsenal (16:30 UK), a barometer for both teams’ early rhythm. Premier League
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Promoted clubs’ first steps: Leeds–Everton on Monday, Sunderland–West Ham and Burnley at Spurs on Saturday—three early reads on survival prospects after back-to-back seasons in which all promoted sides were relegated the following year. Premier League+1
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Transfer ripple effects: Leeds’ headline move for Dominic Calvert-Lewin adds intrigue to their return; elsewhere, clubs are still fine-tuning squads before the window shuts. The Guardian
How the TV changes affect fans (and the table)
With Sky/TNT showing virtually every non-blackout fixture, supporters should face fewer “radio-only” Saturdays and enjoy fuller midweek coverage. For clubs, the expanded live inventory and end-of-season full-round broadcast could amplify pressure moments—especially under the new game-management directives (time-wasting, simulation and holding at set pieces). Expect slightly higher effective playing time and a bit less dark arts; expect more corners against keepers who dawdle. Premier League+1
What would constitute a fast start?
Opening-month calendars are front-loaded: Liverpool meet Arsenal in late August, City face Spurs on Matchweek 2, and a North London derby arrives by November. Navigating these blocks cleanly—while adapting to SAOT and the “Captains Only” dialogue—could separate would-be champions from chasers by the first international break. Premier League
Tonight: Liverpool–Bournemouth (20:00 UK, Sky Sports). Then come Villa–Newcastle (12:30 Sat, TNT), Wolves–City (17:30 Sat, Sky), United–Arsenal (16:30 Sun, Sky) and Leeds–Everton (20:00 Mon, Sky). The marathon begins. Premier League