Premier League Preseason 2026/27: Full Schedule, Results & How to Watch

July 29, 2026 · Premier League · 6 min read

The 2026 Premier League preseason is unlike any in recent memory. With the World Cup final played on July 19, clubs have been handed the shortest preparation window in a generation — just 34 days between the end of the tournament and the new season kicking off on August 21. Managers are racing to integrate returning internationals, bed in new signings, and install tactical systems. Every training session counts. Every friendly minute matters.

The first club friendlies began on July 18, and several sides have already completed their opening matches. Here's everything you need to know — results, schedules, key storylines, and how to watch.

Latest Preseason Results

Arsenal opened with a comfortable 3–0 win over MK Dons. Manchester United produced the most emphatic early result, putting five past Rosenborg. Bournemouth dispatched St Pauli 4–1, and promoted Hull City delivered a statement 3–0 away win against Konyaspor.

Not every result was positive. Crystal Palace fell 3–0 to Bromley, Fulham lost 2–0 to Norwich, and Everton were held scoreless by Bolton. But here's the thing about preseason: none of this predicts the league. Managers rotate entire XIs at half-time. Starters play 45 minutes. Fitness trumps tactics. A 5–0 win in July means about as much as a 3–0 loss — which is to say, almost nothing.

Liverpool's US Tour & Full Preseason Schedule

Liverpool have the most structured preseason of any Premier League club, with a three-match US tour followed by two home friendlies at Anfield. For new head coach Andoni Iraola, every one of these matches is a laboratory for his pressing system.

Date	Opponent	Venue
Jul 25	Sunderland	Nashville, USA
Jul 29	Wrexham	Yankee Stadium, New York
Aug 2	Leeds United	Soldier Field, Chicago
Aug 9	AS Monaco	Anfield
Aug 16	Como	Anfield

Liverpool confirmed all five senior preseason matches will be available through All Red Video, though territorial restrictions apply — the three US matches will not be available through that service inside the United States. The Monaco and Como fixtures, coming just before the league opener against Newcastle, should provide the clearest indication of Iraola's preferred lineup.

Manchester United's Nordic Tour

United have taken a different route — six matches across Finland, Norway, Ireland, and Sweden. Michael Carrick is using the tour to build fitness and evaluate his new midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in match conditions.

The club opened against Wrexham in Helsinki before visiting Rosenborg in Trondheim. MUTV and United's official digital channels carry match reports and viewing information for each fixture, though displayed kickoff times may vary by location and remain subject to change.

Important Preseason Storylines

Results are the least interesting thing about preseason. Here's what actually matters:

New Managers, New Systems

A record number of Premier League clubs begin the campaign under new coaches. Liverpool (Iraola), Chelsea (Alonso), and Manchester City (Maresca) are all using preseason to introduce fundamentally different tactical ideas. Watch for pressing triggers, build-up patterns, and defensive shape — not the scoreline.

Minutes, Not Goals

A new signing starting consecutive friendlies often signals that the player is being prepared for an opening-weekend role. Managers may use split squads or make ten substitutions at half-time, which reduces the analytical value of traditional match reports. Pay attention to who plays 60+ minutes, not who scores.

Fantasy Premier League Intel

If you play FPL, preseason is reconnaissance. Track penalty takers, set-piece responsibilities, full-backs pushing into advanced positions, and forwards being deployed centrally. The official Premier League preseason guide explicitly identifies new managers and evolving team roles as key areas to monitor before Gameweek 1.

Matches to Watch

Not all friendlies are created equal. The fixtures closest to the season opener carry the most weight:

• Liverpool vs Monaco (Aug 9) — Monaco are a Champions League-level opponent. This is Iraola's last serious test before Newcastle away.
• Liverpool vs Como (Aug 16) — The final dress rehearsal. Expect something close to the starting XI.
• Arsenal's later friendlies — Are the champions changing their attacking structure? The final preseason matches will reveal whether Arteta has tweaked the formula.
• Manchester City's fixtures — Post-Guardiola City are the league's biggest unknown. Early patterns — or the absence of them — will be scrutinised.

For promoted Coventry, Ipswich, and Hull, preseason isn't about tactics — it's about adapting to the speed and physicality of Premier League football. Hull's 3–0 win over Konyaspor was encouraging, but competitive league matches operate at an entirely different intensity.

How to Watch Preseason Matches

There is no single global broadcaster for Premier League preseason friendlies. Coverage is fragmented across club platforms, local TV partners, and tournament organisers — and a stream available in the UK may be blocked in the US.

Official sources to check:

• Club websites and official apps (Liverpool: All Red Video; United: MUTV)
• Verified club social media accounts
• Local sports television schedules
• Tournament organiser broadcasts (particularly for US-based tours)

A note of caution: unofficial websites claiming to show every preseason match should be treated sceptically, especially when they don't identify an authorised rights holder. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Final Thoughts

The 2026/27 preseason is shorter, more compressed, and more tactically significant than any in recent memory. Early victories for Arsenal, Manchester United, Bournemouth, and Hull have generated positive headlines — but performances, fitness, and tactical development matter far more than results at this stage.

As August approaches, the strongest clubs will gradually increase playing time for expected starters. Those final friendlies — Liverpool vs Monaco and Como, Arsenal's last warm-up, City's tactical unveiling — should provide the clearest picture of how each team will line up when the real football begins on August 21.