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19 June 2026

As the new Premier League season draws nearer, with fixtures set to be released on Friday, focus is quickly shifting to what promises to be another intense title race.

At the summit, Arsenal will look to defend their crown after ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League trophy. However, they will face significant challenges from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea — all three clubs entering new eras under fresh management.

Following the departure of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City are yet to confirm who will take charge next season. Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola has succeeded Arne Slot at Liverpool, and Xabi Alonso has replaced Liam Rosenior at Chelsea.

Could an unexpected contender emerge this time around? Here, we highlight five fixtures that could have a decisive impact on the 2026/27 Premier League title race.

It would have been easy to include both of Arsenal’s encounters with their primary rivals in this list, but we’ll focus on the second meeting. Arsenal host Manchester City in November, but the return fixture at the Etihad Stadium in late January might prove far more decisive — especially given the difficulty of winning away in Manchester.

Despite their impressive title run last season, Mikel Arteta’s side failed to beat City in any competition. That’s an area they’ll be eager to improve on this campaign. A win away at City would send a powerful statement and secure three crucial points. Conversely, a City victory could re-establish psychological dominance over Arsenal — something that has influenced this rivalry in recent seasons.

If Liverpool remain in contention, Arsenal’s home clash against Andoni Iraola’s men could be a standout game. Scheduled for early February, it falls at a stage of the season where points are increasingly hard to recover. This fixture could prove pivotal in the race for the top, and it promises to be an entertaining contest if both sides are still pushing for the title.

As the season heads into its final stretch — roughly a month before the concluding weekend — the spotlight may turn to Chelsea under Xabi Alonso. Whether his side, or Manchester City under their yet-to-be-named coach, remain in the hunt remains to be seen. Given Chelsea’s managerial volatility, Alonso’s tenure could also be under scrutiny by then. Nonetheless, if either or both of these “Blues” teams are competing for the crown, this fixture could carry enormous significance.

The North London derby, always charged with emotion, could again prove to be a potential stumbling block for Arsenal. Tottenham’s situation could vary — last season, they were battling to avoid relegation at this point. Will they find themselves in a similar fight, or could they be pushing for European qualification — or even more? Regardless, this clash could have major repercussions for Arsenal’s campaign.

Roberto De Zerbi, who narrowly steered Tottenham away from relegation last season, will want to build on that stability. The derby typically delivers excitement, and with just a couple of weeks left in the season, this one could easily become a classic if either or both teams have something to play for.