Premier League Fixtures: Analysing the Best and Worst Months for Each Big Six Club

The Premier League campaign is a long, emotionally charged journey, full of dramatic highs and painful lows. With the complete fixture list for the 2025/26 season now officially unveiled, fans of all clubs can begin plotting their team’s path through the highs of promising runs and the lows of gruelling stretches.

Below is a breakdown of each ‘Big Six’ club’s most favourable and most challenging months based on the newly released calendar.

Arsenal

Best Month

Arsenal supporters will take great comfort in the look of several months throughout the season. October, December, and March all appear favourable on paper, packed with fixtures that should offer ample opportunities to collect points. However, it is May that stands out as potentially crucial in the Gunners’ pursuit of the Premier League title.

A kind run-in featuring Fulham (home), West Ham United (away), Burnley (home), and Crystal Palace (away) offers Mikel Arteta’s side an ideal opportunity to close the season on a high and potentially secure silverware.

Worst Month

Despite the favourable finish, April could prove to be Arsenal’s most testing period of the season. It includes a demanding visit from Bournemouth, followed by two season-defining clashes—Manchester City (away) and Newcastle United (home).

These high-stakes fixtures could be pivotal in determining Arsenal’s fate in the title race, especially as the pressure intensifies late in the campaign.

Chelsea

Best Month

Chelsea fans will be optimistic heading into August, with a relatively comfortable start to the season providing new manager Enzo Maresca a golden opportunity to hit the ground running.

The Blues will face Crystal Palace (home), West Ham United (away), and Fulham (home)—fixtures in which they will be considered favourites. Expectations will be high, and anything short of nine points from nine will likely be seen as a missed opportunity.

Worst Month

While Chelsea begin their campaign favourably, the conclusion could prove far more daunting. Both March and April feature several fixtures against direct competitors, but it is May that may prove the most treacherous.

A potentially tricky home encounter against Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest opens the month, followed by a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool and a home clash with rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The season ends with an away day at Sunderland, and the Blues will hope they are not scrambling for vital points at that stage.

Liverpool

Best Month

Liverpool’s most comfortable periods on the calendar appear to be September and April. Both months include a pair of fixtures against the same opponents, which could play into the Reds’ hands.

In September, they begin with Burnley (away), then host Everton in the Merseyside derby, before travelling to Crystal Palace. April presents a similar opportunity, with matches against Everton and Crystal Palace again, sandwiched around a home fixture against Fulham.

Worst Month

Despite being seen as favourites in most of their matches, Liverpool face a potentially tricky stretch in November.

They begin with a challenging fixture against Aston Villa (home), but it’s the subsequent visit to Manchester City that could significantly impact their season. The month wraps up with games against Nottingham Forest (home) and West Ham United (away), making it a period requiring top performance and focus.

Manchester City

Best Month

October, March, and May each look positive for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. However, it is December—a month typically packed with fixtures—that appears most promising.

City will play six games across December, facing Fulham (away), Sunderland (home), Crystal Palace (away), West Ham United (home), Nottingham Forest (away), and a final trip to Sunderland again. On paper, all are very winnable, and a perfect haul of 18 points seems entirely within reach.

Worst Month

January brings with it a significantly tougher run. Coming off a potentially dominant December, City will be met with a challenging start to the new year.

They face three other ‘Big Six’ clubs in five games: Chelsea (home), Manchester United (away), and Tottenham Hotspur (away). Also included are tricky home fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. If City are not operating at peak form, their title hopes could take a hit.

Manchester United

Best Month

The fixture list hasn’t been especially generous to Manchester United, with no month appearing overly easy. Still, November and February both offer some respite, with each featuring matches against Everton, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham Hotspur.

In November, United begin with a trip to Nottingham Forest, followed by the trio of games above. February sees them face West Ham United (away) before again playing those same three sides. This slight repetition could help Erik ten Hag’s squad build consistency during these periods.

Worst Month

While September holds its own difficulties, January is likely the greatest concern for United.

Coming off a physically intense December, the Red Devils face a tough start to the new year with an away trip to fierce rivals Leeds United. Although Burnley (away) may seem less daunting, that fixture is followed by a brutal sequence against Manchester City (home), Arsenal (away), and Fulham (home). Managing player fitness and morale during this stretch will be essential.

Tottenham Hotspur

Best Month

Tottenham Hotspur’s calendar features several manageable months. Under the guidance of Thomas Frank, September and October should bring confidence—but April is potentially the most advantageous.

With the Champions League quarter-finals and the first leg of the semi-finals scheduled in April, Spurs will be pleased to find themselves facing Sunderland (away), Brighton & Hove Albion (home), and Wolverhampton Wanderers (away) during this period. These domestic fixtures provide a valuable opportunity to balance European ambitions with league form.

Worst Month

However, the comfort of April is counterbalanced by a few particularly challenging months. November is arguably the most demanding, as Spurs face Chelsea (home), Manchester United (home), Arsenal (away), and Fulham (home), while also juggling Champions League group stage matches.

February presents another difficult period. Fixtures against Manchester United (away), Newcastle United (home), Arsenal (home), and Fulham (away) will test squad depth and stamina, making it a critical month for their campaign.

Conclusion

In summary, each of the Premier League’s top six clubs faces a unique seasonal rhythm. From the calm waters of favourable runs to the stormy seas of challenging fixture piles, the 2025–26 campaign will be defined not only by moments of brilliance, but by how each side navigates these ebbs and flows. Fans can only hope their clubs make the most of the good times and survive the rough patches with minimal damage.