Gameweek 1 Preview: Every Sky Sports & TNT Sports Game, Key Stat and Betting Tip

Seven of the ten opening-weekend fixtures are live on UK television. Here’s a stat and a tip for each one, from Friday night at the Emirates through to Monday’s derby at Craven Cottage.

The 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off with Arsenal hosting Coventry City on Friday night, and by the time Fulham and Chelsea finish up on Monday, seven of the weekend’s ten matches will have been shown live in the UK — six on Sky Sports and one on TNT Sports. We’ve dug into the head-to-head history for every one of them to bring you a genuine stat and a single tip apiece. As always, these are starting points for your own research rather than certainties — the golden rule of gameweek one is that early-season form (and refereeing rustiness) can make fools of favourites.

Everton vs Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town vs Sunderland and Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United all kick off at 3pm on the Saturday and fall under the traditional blackout, so they aren’t shown live in the UK.

Arsenal vs Coventry City

Mikel Arteta’s side open the defence of last season’s title on a Friday night, and the opponent is a genuine novelty: Coventry City are back in the top flight for the first time since 2000/01, a gap of 25 years across every competitive meeting between the clubs.

“Openers against freshly promoted sides are exactly where a title favourite is supposed to make its intentions clear. Arsenal have the firepower and the crowd behind them — the concern for backers is price, not performance.”Gab Sutton, FootballMine

Our tip: Arsenal to win to nil

Coventry’s return to the Premier League is the feel-good story of the opening weekend, but a newly promoted side away at a top-four regular on a Friday night, with a full pre-season behind the hosts, is a tough starting assignment. Arsenal’s home defensive record against sides outside the traditional top half is one of the best in the division, and a routine clean sheet fits the occasion.

Hull City vs Manchester United

The early Saturday kick-off brings United back to Humberside for the first time since Hull’s relegation at the end of the 2016/17 season, when the sides met twice in the Premier League and once in the EFL Cup semi-final.

“United’s away form against sides they’re supposed to beat has been the real story of the last two campaigns. Hull will be roared on by a sold-out MKM Stadium, and 12:30 kick-offs after a short pre-season have caught United cold before.”Gab Sutton, FootballMine

Our tip: Manchester United Double Chance (win or draw)

United should have the quality to avoid defeat even if the atmosphere and occasion favour the hosts. Rather than laying a short price on an outright away win against a pumped-up promoted side, the double chance market offers protection against United’s well-documented slow starts to away trips.

Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs have the historical edge in this fixture, winning 28 of the 52 previous meetings to Brentford’s seven, but the recent head-to-head record tells a very different story about how these games actually play out.

“Brentford under Thomas Frank’s successors have kept the same open, front-foot identity, and Spurs’ attacking talent means these fixtures rarely stay quiet for long. The head-to-head goal trend here is too strong to ignore on matchday one.”Gab Sutton, FootballMine

Our tip: Over 2.5 goals

With both sides carrying attacking threat and a recent head-to-head record stuffed with goals at both ends, backing the over looks the more sustainable angle than trying to call the winner in what’s traditionally a tight, competitive derby-style fixture.

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s all-time record in this fixture is emphatic, but form lines close to the current day are far more competitive than the overall head-to-head suggests.

“The all-time numbers flatter Villa — most of that dominance predates Brighton’s rise into a genuine top-half club. On current form and at home, the Seagulls have every right to be competitive here.”Gab Sutton, FootballMine

Our tip: Brighton Draw No Bet

Brighton’s recent resilience against Villa, combined with home advantage on the opening weekend, makes backing them without the draw risk a sensible way into this one — you get paid if they win and your stake is simply returned if the game finishes level.

Manchester City vs Bournemouth

City’s dominance of this fixture is about as complete as any in the Premier League, but the most recent instalment offered a genuine crack in the armour worth flagging before backing them again.

“One draw doesn’t undo more than a decade of one-sided results, especially back at the Etihad on the opening weekend. But it’s worth knowing City’s aura against Bournemouth specifically took its first dent in over ten years before you load up on the biggest possible winning margin.”Gab Sutton, FootballMine

Our tip: Manchester City -2 Asian Handicap

Expect City to reassert themselves at home rather than repeat the away draw, but given Bournemouth’s newly-found resistance in this exact fixture, the -2 handicap is a more balanced way to back a home win than laying the outright market at a short price.

Newcastle United vs Liverpool

Moved from the traditional Saturday 3pm slot to a 4:30pm Sunday billing, this is the standout fixture of the opening weekend — and the head-to-head trend is remarkably one-sided.

“Nineteen games unbeaten in any fixture is a startling number, and the late-goal pattern at St James’ Park specifically suggests these are rarely comfortable, low-event afternoons. New Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle has won his first match at every previous club, which adds an interesting subplot.”Gab Sutton, FootballMine

Our tip: Both teams to score

Given Newcastle’s attacking threat at home and Liverpool’s habit of needing a late intervention to see these games out at St James’ Park, backing goals at both ends looks a safer route in than picking the outright winner in what should be the pick of the weekend.

Fulham vs Chelsea

Monday Night Football closes out the opening weekend with a west London derby that has swung firmly back and forth over the last five meetings.

“Chelsea have the deeper squad and, on paper, the class advantage — but Fulham’s home form against their west London neighbours has been genuinely competitive, and Cole Palmer remains the single biggest swing factor in either direction.”Gab Sutton, FootballMine

Our tip: Chelsea to win & both teams to score

Three of the last five meetings have produced goals at both ends, and Chelsea’s greater squad depth should tell on the road even in a fixture Fulham can never be discounted in. The win-and-BTTS combination captures both trends without needing to call an exact scoreline.

Odds and head-to-head figures correct as of 19 August 2026 and subject to change. FootballMine may earn commission from bet365 if you sign up through the links on this page — this does not affect the stats or opinions above, and does not cost you anything extra.