It will be a closer title race this time – With Newcastle United in the mix | OneFootball

Well , the first momentous day of pre-season has been and gone, the release of the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures.

The first thing I always look at, is the first six Newcastle United fixtures and then the last half dozen.

I have confidence that Newcastle United will be right up near the top, by the time the business end of the campaign comes around.

Kicking things off though is one of our rivals for a top six position, away to Aston Villa.

Two memorable opening day games saw us thrash Villa 6-0 in 2010 and 5-1 two years ago, both of those at St James’ Park.

If we can finally beat Liverpool in the Prem in our second game at Gallowgate, it would be a massive result.

It is then Leeds away, Wolves at home and Bournemouth away, then after we play Arsenal at home on 30th Sept, I feel that there is a good chance United will be well placed.

December looks like a month where we can pick up plenty of points during the festive period.

A lot of you might think I sound optimistic so far and all I have to say is that I bloody well am.

I know our squad is going to be strengthened significantly this summer. I have also witnessed with wise old eyes that this current Eddie Howe Newcastle United side are canny good.

The Toon will be capable of beating anyone, anywhere, this coming season.

If we are in a strong position come next spring we may actually be in with a shout for the Premier League title itself.

If you don’t believe me, have another look at our fixtures (ED: See below) in April and May.

Of course we also have Champions League and domestic Cup matches to consider when looking at and judging/predicting the forthcoming campaign.

Liverpool walked the Premier League last season, but the quadruple waffle that the media and their self-entitled supporters came out with, was premature. They were never that good, as we proved at Wembley.

The Premier League title race will be much closer this season with a couple of extra teams in the mix.

All of the Septic Six will be strengthening their squads, some are already committed to spending mega-bucks.

I’m not worried about them anymore. We know our limitations, but something is happening here on Tyneside that the Septics, nor anybody else for that matter, would find difficult to comprehend.

Newcastle are truly United as one…team, owners and fans. The whole region finally believes in what our goals are and what can be achieved. We are all once again very proud Geordies after decades of wanton decline at the club.

That goes one hell of a long way in any quest for ultimate success.

We will be classed as outsiders but don’t be surprised at United’s odds for the title regularly being slashed throughout this coming campaign.

Newcastle United 2025/26 Premier League fixtures:

September Sat 13 Wolves (H) Tues 16, Wed 17 and Thur 18 – Champions League Matchday 1 Sat 20 Bournemouth (A) W/C Mon 22 Sept – League Cup third round Sat 27 Arsenal (H) Tues 30 and Wed 1 Oct – Champions League Matchday 2

October Sat 4 Nottingham Forest (H) Sat 18 Brighton (A) Tues 21 and Wed 22 – Champions League Matchday 3 Sat 25 Fulham (H)

November Sat 1 West Ham (A) Tues 4 and Wed 5 – Champions League Matchday 4 Sat 8 Brentford (A) Sat 22 Manchester City (H) Tues 25 and Wed 26 – Champions League Matchday 5 Sat 29 Everton (A)

December Wed 3 Spurs (H) Sat 6 Burnley (H) Tues 9 and Wed 10 – Champions League Matchday 6 Sat 13 Sunderland (A) Sat 20 Chelsea (H) Sat 27 Manchester United (A) Tue 30 Burnley (A)

January Sat 3 Crystal Palace (H) Wed 7 Leeds United (H) Weekend of Sat 10 – FA Cup third round Sat 17 Wolves (A) Tues 20 and Wed 21 – Champions League Matchday 7 Sat 24 Aston Villa (H) Wed 28 – Champions League Matchday 8 Sat 31 Liverpool (A)