Arsenal and Manchester City look the most likely candidates for the 2025-26 Premier League title and the pair will be aiming to underline their credentials as champions in January
The New Year is upon us and that means it’s only a matter of months before the Premier League trophy will be hoisted into the air once again. The only mystery remains over the identity of the team who will be lifting it.
As it stands, Arsenal are the favourites to be crowned come the end of the campaign. Mikel Arteta‘s side have enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2025-26 campaign.
Their dominant 4-1 win against Aston Villa has left them four clear at the top of the table. And should that be a position they keep until May, they will end a long wait that has seen them go over two decades without a league title.
They do however have one issue and that’s Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have made winning the Premier League a habit. However, they could only earn a point in their first outing of 2026 after drawing 0-0 with Sunderland.
With every matchweek comes new twists and turns and that looks set to be no different over the coming weeks. Mirror Football takes a look at each side’s upcoming January fixtures:
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Arsenal
Despite Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup fixtures presenting the Gunners with a few distractions, they will no doubt be prioritising their Premier League title push. Their first fixture in 2026 sees them up against Bournemouth away from home.
They then follow that up with a home game against Liverpool just a few days later. While Arne Slot’s side have not been at their imperious best this season, a clash against the reigning champions still presents a stern challenge.
A trip to Nottingham Forest is then their next assignment nine days later, while a Sunday showdown with Manchester United at the Emirates comes towards the end of the month. Arsenal round off January with an away clash with a resurgent Leeds at Elland Road.
Arsenal fixtures:
Bournemouth (A) – Saturday 3 January
Liverpool (H) – Thursday 8 January
Nottingham Forest (A) – Saturday 17 January
Manchester United (H) – Sunday 25 January
Leeds United (A) – Saturday 31 January
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Man City
A trip to Stamford Bridge would usually give Pep Guardiola’s side plenty to think about – and that is no doubt the same this weekend. But given the Blues are without a manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca, it could potentially be even more difficult.
Their tricky run of fixtures continues with a home game against Brighton in midweek before City travel to Old Trafford midway through January for the latest instalment of the Manchester derby.
A home game with rock bottom Wolves should give City an excellent opportunity for maximum points. The same could also be said of a trip to Spurs but given how many times the North London side have got the better of Guardiola and his team over recent years, it might not be as straightforward as some might be expecting.
Man City fixtures:
Chelsea (A) – Sunday 4 January
Brighton & Hove Albion (H) – Wednesday 7 January
Manchester United (A) – Saturday 17 January
Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) Saturday 24 January
Tottenham Hotspur (A) – Sunday 1 February
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
