The Premier League released its 2026/27 schedule on Friday, and the first thing everyone did was circle the big ones. Arsenal vs. Manchester City. Liverpool vs. Chelsea. The north London derby. But if you want to know which games might actually decide the title, you need to look a little deeper than just the usual blockbusters.
Arsenal just ended a 22-year wait for the league trophy, but repeating is always harder than winning the first one. And this season comes with a massive asterisk: three of their biggest rivals — Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea — will all start the season with new managers. In a post-Pep Guardiola world, City haven’t even named a permanent replacement yet. Liverpool swapped Arne Slot for Andoni Iraola. Chelsea brought in Xabi Alonso to replace Liam Rosenior. That’s a lot of uncertainty at the top.
So here are five games that could actually swing the title race, starting with a rematch that might carry more weight than the first one.
Manchester City vs. Arsenal — Late January
Arsenal host City in November, and that one matters. But the return fixture at the Etihad in late January feels like the real test. The Gunners didn’t beat City in any competition last season, even as they won the league. That’s a mental block as much as a tactical one. An away win here would be a statement. A City win, on the other hand, could recreate that psychological edge they’ve held over Arsenal for years. And with no Guardiola on the sideline, nobody really knows how this version of City responds to pressure.
Arsenal vs. Liverpool — Early February
This assumes Liverpool are still in the race by February, which is not a given with a new coach. But Iraola’s style is aggressive and direct, and if he gets the squad buying in early, Liverpool could be dangerous. This is deep enough into the season that dropping points starts to hurt more. Arsenal at home against a Liverpool side finding its identity under a new boss — that could go either way, which is exactly why it matters.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City — Late April
With a month left in the season, this one could be massive. The question is whether Alonso’s Chelsea will still be in contention by then. Or whether City, with their still-unknown manager, will have faded. Or maybe both are in the mix, and this is a direct shootout. Alonso’s tenure could also be over by then — this is Chelsea we’re talking about — but if he’s still there and the team is hanging around the top, this fixture could decide a lot.
Tottenham vs. Arsenal — April
The north London derby is always a potential banana skin for Arsenal. Last season, Tottenham was fighting relegation at this point and barely escaped under Roberto De Zerbi. That desperation made them dangerous. This year, who knows what Spurs will be playing for? Maybe they’re scrapping again. Maybe they’re chasing Europe. Either way, this game has real stakes for Arsenal’s title hopes, and Spurs will be motivated regardless of what’s on the line for them.
Liverpool vs. Chelsea — Mid-May
Two weeks before the season ends. If either of these teams is still in the race at this point, this could be an all-timer. Iraola vs. Alonso. Anfield in May. The crowd, the tension, the need for every single point. If there’s anything still on the line for both sides, and we get a wide-open, end-to-end game, people will remember this one for a long time.
Leave a Comment