Assessing Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City's Premier League 2025/26 title run-ins

Following the release of the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures, Ladbrokes assesses the season run-ins for each title challenger.

Champions Liverpool are the favourites to defend their title next season, but Arsenal and Manchester City will have something to say about that as they attempt to wrestle the crown off Arne Slot's men.

The Reds begin their campaign against Bournemouth, with Arsenal and City visiting Manchester United and Wolves respectively, but who do the three title challengers face towards the end of the campaign?

Here are the opponents each side must overcome once reach the all-important business end of the 2025/26 season.

• Everton vs Liverpool - 18 April, 2026

• Liverpool vs Crystal Palace - 25 April, 2026

• Manchester United vs Liverpool - 2 May, 2026

• Liverpool vs Chelsea - 9 May, 2026

• Aston Villa vs Liverpool - 17 May, 2026

• Liverpool vs Brentford - 24 May, 2026

Liverpool had their 20th title wrapped up with four games to spare last season but with City and Arsenal set to mount a more stringent challenge, there could be plenty still up in the air in the final six games.

That six-game sequence kicks off in blockbuster style for the Reds as they make the short trip to neighbours Everton in what will be the first Merseyside derby at the Toffees' brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The old rivals played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the last derby at Goodison Park last season and more fireworks are expected when Slot's side turn up at their new home at the city's Bramley Moore Dock.

A home clash against Crystal Palace follows before they have another away trip against a rival as they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The tricky fixtures keep coming as they have a double-header against two Champions League contenders, first a home clash with Chelsea before travelling to Unai Emery's Aston Villa.

Should the destination of the title still be up in the air on the final day, then Liverpool will consider a home clash with Brentford as a somewhat favourable match.

• Manchester City vs Arsenal - 18 April, 2026

• Arsenal vs Newcastle - 25 April, 2026

• Arsenal vs Fulham - 2 May, 2026

• West Ham vs Arsenal - 9 May, 2026

• Arsenal vs Burnley - 17 May, 2026

• Crystal Palace vs Arsenal - 24 May, 2026

Arsenal's run-in in their pursuit of an elusive Premier League title under Mikel Arteta begins with potentially one of their most pivotal of the season as they visit expected title rivals Man City.

The Gunners were pipped to the title by Pep Guardiola's men in both 2022/23 and 2023/24, before falling short to Liverpool last season as the Spanish boss looks to break a cycle of three successive second-place finishes.

They are then at home to another difficult opponent in Newcastle, who are an outside challenger for the title, before another home clash against Fulham.

Arteta's side then take on an away trip to West Ham, before their final home game of the season versus promoted side Burnley.

The last game of the season, and their third London clash in the final four games, sees them travel to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in what could be a tricky game if the title is still up for grabs.

• Manchester City vs Arsenal - 18 April, 2026

• Burnley vs Manchester City - 25 April, 2026

• Everton vs Manchester City - 2 May, 2026

• Manchester City vs Brentford - 9 May, 2026

• Bournemouth vs Manchester City - 17 May, 2026

• Manchester City vs Aston Villa - 24 May, 2026

A new-look City side, who are currently chasing glory at the FIFA Club World Cup, will be desperate to restore the their reputation as England's best team and could take a huge step towards doing that with a victory against Arsenal in late April.

Back-to-back away trips are next up as they visit Burnley and Everton, before what should be a relatively straightforward encounter against Brentford at the Etihad.

A clash on the road to Bournemouth may not seem the most daunting, but the Vitality Stadium is a ground they were beaten 2-1 at last season kick was part of a horrific run in November which saw them lose six out of seven games.

Like Liverpool but unlike Arsenal, City end the season on home soil as they welcome Aston Villa.

The Citizens have an excellent record at home against the West Midlands side, winning their last 15 Premier League meetings at the Etihad.

They also have history of securing the title in this fixture, doing so on the final day of the 2021/22 season after a stunning comeback from two goals down in a 3-2 victory.

Of the three sides expected to be up for the title, Man City can consider themselves to have the easiest run-in given their favourable games once the Arsenal game is out of the way.

Both City and Liverpool have a difficult opponent in Villa in their final two games, but Emery's men lost just once at home last season, making the Reds' trip to Villa Park much more tricky than City's home encounter.

City's other four games are against mid-table or bottom half sides, while Liverpool have games against rivals Everton and Man Utd as well as Chelsea.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have a smattering of difficult games against City, Newcastle and away at Palace, but home clashes with Fulham and Burnley either side of West Ham should return nine points for Arteta's side.

Excitement is already building for the 2025/26 Premier League season, with the bookies predicting another title victory for Liverpool.

Slot's side are odds-on to defend their Premier League crown for the first time, with Arsenal currently considered their nearest challengers just ahead of City.

Following the release of the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures, Ladbrokes runs through the full schedule on the opening day, Boxing Day and the final day, as well as the biggest games to look out for.

We have also pinpointed the games where a shock result could be on the cards, with a shock Merseyside derby defeat tipped for Liverpool.

View the latest football odds.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.