Headline: Arsenal Opens Premier League Season Against Coventry City
The Premier League returns this week, with Arsenal set to start their title defence in the season’s opening match against newly-promoted Coventry City this Friday. The match kicks off at 20:00 BST.
Following the opener, the week one fixtures will continue through Saturday and Sunday, culminating in a Monday night clash where Fulham will host Chelsea.
Fans can keep up with the action throughout the 2026-27 season by tuning into highlights on Match of the Day, obtaining live updates through text commentaries available on the BBC Sport website and app, and following live goal updates on Final Score. For continuous live score updates on mobile devices, supporters can stay connected by following their preferred teams.
Additionally, BBC Radio 5 Live will provide coverage of matches across the UK, offering extensive commentary and match updates via the BBC Sounds app.
Match Schedule Overview:
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Friday, 21 August
- Arsenal vs Coventry City (20:00)
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Saturday, 22 August
- Additional matches to be confirmed
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Sunday, 23 August
- Additional matches to be confirmed
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Monday, 24 August
- Fulham vs Chelsea (time to be confirmed)
All times are in BST.
Match of the Day Broadcast Details:
Fans can catch Match of the Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 22:20 BST on Saturdays. The BBC Sport website will feature highlights from all Premier League matches throughout the weekend, typically available from 20:00 BST on both Saturdays and Sundays. Viewers can also follow the live goals as they happen on Final Score, starting at 15:45 BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Listening Options on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds:
BBC Radio 5 Live will feature a total of 209 live Premier League commentaries, with selected matches and updates available through BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport app, and smart speakers.
Saturday, 22 August Matches:
- Nottingham Forest vs Leeds (15:00) – BBC Radio 5 Live
- Ipswich vs Sunderland (15:00) – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
- Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur (17:30) – BBC Radio 5 Live
Sunday, 23 August Matches:
- Manchester City vs Bournemouth (14:00) – BBC Radio 5 Live
- Brighton vs Aston Villa (14:00) – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
- Newcastle vs Liverpool (16:30) – BBC Radio 5 Live
Listeners can also access every Premier League commentary through the newly launched Sports Extra 2 and Sports Extra 3 streams available only on BBC Sounds, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the season.
For those interested in finding out more or listening via their smart speakers, simply request your commentary by asking for specific match coverage.
This detailed broadcast strategy ensures that fans will have numerous options for following their teams and experiencing the excitement of the Premier League as they dive into the new season.
The Premier League is back – and you can keep across the action all season long on the BBC.
Arsenal will begin their title defence with the opening game of the season against newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday.
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The rest of the week one matches will be spread across Saturday and Sunday, followed by Fulham hosting Chelsea in the sole Monday night fixture.
Throughout the 2026-27 season, you can watch highlights from every game on Match of the Day, get live updates in our text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app and keep across all the goals as they go in on Final Score.
You can get live score updates on your phone lock screen simply by following your favourite teams.
And you can listen to match coverage wherever you are in the UK via BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sounds app.
Digital highlights will be available post-match on the BBC Sport website and app.
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Who is playing?
Defending champions Arsenal take on newly-promoted Coventry City in the season’s opening fixture [Getty Images]
Friday, 21 August
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Arsenal v Coventry City (20:00)
Saturday, 22 August
Sunday, 23 August
Monday, 24 August
All times in BST
What time is Match of the Day this week?
Match of the Day will bring you all the goals and analysis from this week’s Premier League games [BBC]
Match of the Day will bring you all the best of the action and talking points from the Premier League on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday at 22:20 BST.
The BBC Sport website has featured highlights of every Premier League match during the 2026-27 season.
At weekends, these will be available on the BBC Sport app, website and iPlayer on Saturdays and Sundays – ordinarily from 20:00 BST.
Don’t miss any of the goals as they go in on Final Score – starting on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 15:45 BST.
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How to listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
BBC Radio 5 Live brings you more Premier League commentaries than anywhere else this season, with 209 live matches.
You can listen to selected commentaries, plus updates from around the grounds, on BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport app and website and via your smart speaker.
Saturday, 22 Aug
Nottingham Forest v Leeds (15:00) – BBC Radio 5 Live
Ipswich v Sunderland (15:00) – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur (17:30) – BBC Radio 5 Live
Sunday, 23 Aug
Manchester City v Bournemouth (14:00) – BBC Radio 5 Live
Brighton v Aston Villa (14:00) – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
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Newcastle v Liverpool (16:30) – BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Sounds is the place to find every 5 Live Premier League commentary this season, with more ways to listen via the app than ever before.
Sports Extra 2 and Sports Extra 3 are new radio streams available only on BBC Sounds, offering you the chance to discover more coverage from the Premier League and listen to your team live.
And the Football Fix collection brings you every 5 Live Premier League commentary, alongside build-up, reaction and all the BBC’s football podcasts, in one place. You can find it on the BBC Sounds homepage throughout the season.
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Here are ways to download the BBC Sounds app:
Listen on your smart speaker
You can also listen to 5 Live Premier League commentaries via your smart speaker, so if you’re busy at home you don’t need to miss a moment.
Just ask your smart speaker to ‘play 5 Live’ or ‘play Sports Extra 3’, for example.
To find your Premier League team’s commentary, you can also say, ‘Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Arsenal match’ or ‘Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Brentford’, for example.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.
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More questions answered…
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