The 2025/26 Premier League fixtures have now been officially released, allowing football fans across the country to map out the next year of their lives.
As ever, the fixture list didn't throw up any surprises in that every team will play each other twice, but the dates of said fixtures are more important than some people like to believe.
In terms of derby matches, there are plenty to look forward to this season, including a couple of new ones following the return of Sunderland and Leeds United.
Best derbies to attend in the Premier League 2025/26
The Tyne–Wear derby
The derby that football fans are looking forward to the most this season is the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland. It has been ten years since the two clubs faced each other in a league derby, with the only clash between the two clubs in that time frame coming in the FA Cup in January 2024.
Sunderland's return to the Premier League has definitely been well-received, as there is a real hatred between both sets of supporters, and both clashes are therefore expected to be given a lunchtime kick-off slot at the advice of the police.
Dates
- December 13: Sunderland v Newcastle
- March 21: Newcastle v Sunderland
The Manchester derby
The Manchester derby has been a staple of the Premier League for several years now, but the balance of the fixture has flipped on its head. In the early Premier League years, Man Utd were the country's dominant force while Man City were effectively a yo-yo team dipping in and out of the top flight.
Nowadays, it is Man City that are the dominant force in English football, while Man Utd are sliding closer to an unfathomable relegation. Despite that, last season, Man Utd picked up four points from their two fixtures against Man City, so they will perhaps be looking forward to facing them again in 2025/26.
The red half of Manchester will need to get busy in the transfer market during July and August if they are to have any realistic hope of competing with Manchester City beyond these two fixtures next season.
Dates
- September 13: Man City vs Man Utd
- January 17: Man Utd vs Man City
The Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is a fixture that has been part of the top flight every season since 1964. The close-knit bond of those hailing from Liverpool has led to suggestions of this derby being a ‘friendly' one in years gone by, but this is refuted strongly by both sets of supporters.
If there were any doubts about that, the scenes when James Tarkowski rifled in a last-minute equaliser in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park last season should have put them to bed. Everton's home derby this season will be extra special as it will be the first one played at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock.
Dates
- September 20: Liverpool vs Everton
- April 18: Everton vs Liverpool
James Tarkowski EQUALISES with the last kick of a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park! 🤯💥 pic.twitter.com/krD4yw4zjh
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 13, 2025
The North London derby
Over the past 15 years, the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham has established itself as one of the best in the Premier League, at least in terms of match quality. These clashes rarely disappoint, and goals are almost always guaranteed in both fixtures.
Arsenal have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, and haven't lost a match against Tottenham since May 2022. The Gunners have won each of the last three NLDs, so Tottenham will be more desperate than ever to get a win over their old rivals to wrestle back the bragging rights in the north of the capital.
Despite Arsenal performing significantly better than Tottenham in the Premier League across the last three years, it is Spurs fans who will be able to gloat about silverware during these clashes next season, after they won the Europa League in Bilbao at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Dates
- November 22: Arsenal vs Tottenham
- February 21: Tottenham vs Arsenal
The Roses derby
While Manchester United and Leeds United aren't particularly close to each other in terms of proximity, the hatred between both sets of fans, particularly from the Leeds side, is so strong that it makes this match a derby match in its own right.
When Leeds were last in the Premier League, the clashes between the two clubs were frosty off the pitch and exciting on the pitch, with goals the order of the day. If we get something similar again this time around, then these matches will be well worth tuning in for.
The first Roses derby this season will take place in early January, which means it isn't unrealistic to suggest that both clubs could have new managers in place by then. Newly promoted managers are always at risk of getting the chop, while Ruben Amorim will start the season under immense pressure after leading Man Utd to a 15th-place finish last season.
Dates
- January 3: Leeds Utd vs Man Utd
- April 11: Man Utd vs Leeds Utd