The full Premier League fixture list for 2025/26 has been released, and Manchester United will be encouraged by the news that they will begin the season at home for an astounding ninth year in a row.
The Red Devils have had an impressive record when beginning the season at home in recent years, and will hope to continue on that trajectory when Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal visit Old Trafford on August 17.
Ruben Amorim’s side then face a tricky trip to Fulham ahead of September clashes with Manchester City and Chelsea. After an unforgettable 2024/25 campaign for all the wrong reasons, Amorim will be itching to make a good start and minimise the scrutiny he may face in his first full season at the club.
An important transfer window lies in wait before then, with United targeting several big-name players including boyhood fan Hugo Ekitike.
Man United have a good home record on the opening day in recent years
Within Manchester United‘s improbable eight consecutive home opening day fixtures which precede Arsenal’s visit to Old Trafford, the Red Devils have seen six victories, with just two defeats and no draws.
Their last two Premier League opening days have seen unconvincing 1-0 successes, against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham respectively, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring the winner on his Premier League debut against the Cottagers last August.
A similar outcome against the Gunners would be more than welcomed by United, though they may hope to replicate some of the impressive opening-day scorelines they have enjoyed in recent years. For example, in 2021 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United won 5-1 against Leeds United at Old Trafford, while 4-0 victories occurred in 2017 (vs. West Ham) and 2019 (vs. Chelsea).
United must be wary though, as 2020/21 saw a 3-1 home defeat on the opening day by Crystal Palace, while Brighton ran out 2-1 winners at Old Trafford in 2022/23.
| Season | Opening day result |
| 2017-18 | Man United 4-0 West Ham |
| 2018-19 | Man United 2-1 Leicester |
| 2019-20 | Man United 4-0 Chelsea |
| 2020-21 | Man United 1-3 Crystal Palace |
| 2021-22 | Man United 5-1 Leeds |
| 2022-23 | Man United 1-2 Brighton |
| 2023-24 | Man United 1-0 Wolves |
| 2024-25 | Man United 1-0 Fulham |
Manchester United continue remarkable opening-day run
To play at home on the opening day of the season nine years running is unprecedented, and is the type of thing rival fans would have called ‘preferential treatment’ back in the days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The reality is that the fixture generator has given United another lucky break, though it may not seem that way if last season’s runners-up Arsenal leave Old Trafford with all three points.
The last time United played away from home on the opening day of the Premier League season was back in 2016-17, when they enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 victory at Bournemouth. Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were on target that day, in Jose Mourinho’s first league game in charge of the Red Devils.
That was the only away fixture United have faced on the opening day in the last 12 years, with only three defeats during that period resulting in a promising statistic. Arsenal have won six of their last 10 Premier League encounters with United, though, with the Red Devils’ last league success coming back in September 2022.
It will be intriguing to see who comes out on top when the two face off once again, in what many believe to be the stand-out fixture of the opening day of the 2025/26 season.