Premier League: Key Matches of Matchweek 25

The enthralling 2025/26 Premier League season is set to resume, and here we are taking a look at the biggest matches that are set to played across the country in England’s top flight.

Excitement is building ahead of another round of action in the 2025/26 Premier League season, with Matchweek 25 set to get underway on Friday evening with an important match in the battle to avoid relegation between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.

There are plenty of key matches taking place this weekend up and down the league table. There are crucial games in the fight against relegation, the fight for European Football, and for the title itself. Not only that, a fierce rivalry is set to return, with bragging rights and, of course, three points being very much at stake.

Arsenal currently lead the way at the top of the table and are the strongest candidates to win the title race at the moment, though Mikel Arteta’s side will still want to extend the gap between themselves and reigning champions Manchester City in second place, as well as the gap between them and Aston Villa in third. The Gunners are currently 6 ahead of City, and 7 ahead of Villa.

Spurs will know that they are capable of climbing the table in the next few weeks as they seek another season in Europe, whilst Manchester United and Chelsea will see themselves as amongst the strongest candidates to successfully qualify for the UEFA Champions League for next season.

The chances of the likes of United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Villa getting Champions League football for the 2026/27 campaign look likely to increase, with the chance of 5th place becoming a Champions League place looking stronger by the day. This is due to the great seasons that English clubs are having in this competition this season, and in the Europa League and Conference League as well.

Down at the bottom, a number of clubs will want to distance themselves from the drop – this includes the likes of Crystal Palace, Leeds United, and Nottingham Forest, whilst West Ham will want to close the gap between themselves and safety with victory this weekend.

Here, we are going to take a look at the biggest matches taking place on Matchweek 25 in the 2025/26 Premier League season, and in no particular order.

Manchester United vs. Spurs – Old Trafford, Saturday 7^th February, 12:30 KO

We begin with a massive match at Old Trafford between Michael Carrick’s Manchester United and Thomas Frank’s Spurs in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. The game, on 7^th February, will kick-off at 12:30pm.

United look like they have turned a corner under Carrick, with them now amongst the strongest candidates to qualify for UEFA Champions League Football for next season, with them currently in 4th place with 41 points. Their chances are stronger with the top five likely to qualify from England this term.

The Red Devils know that victory strengthens their chances and could put them to within just 2 points of third place Aston Villa.

As for Thomas Frank’s Spurs, they will know that they are capable of climbing the table over the coming weeks, starting with this game at the Theatre of Dreams.

Three points could see them climb above Brighton, and a win could see the start of a run of form that sees them return to the European places by the time that this season comes to an end in May.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland – Emirates Stadium, Saturday 7^th February, 15:00 KO

We now move on to the game between league leaders Arsenal and surprise package Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on the afternoon of Saturday, 7th February 2026. The game begins at 3pm.

Currently, the Gunners are leading the race for the title, with them having so far accumulated as many as 53 points from their 24 matches, having won 16, drawn 5, and lost just 3 of their games ahead of this weekend’s action between Mikel Arteta’s side and Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats in North London.

If they win and other results go their way, Arsenal could extend their lead at the top of the table to no less than what would be a significant total of 9 points ahead of City, and 10 points ahead of Villa. It would be a massive victory for Arsenal as they look to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004 this term.

As for Sunderland, the newly promoted outfit are surprising everyone this season, with them currently sat as high as 8th place with 36 points. Not only that, they are amongst the clubs battling for European Football with many having predicted them as relegation candidates at the start of the season. They are, as things stand before the weekend’s action, only outside of the European places on goal difference, with Brentford currently in 7th place.

Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa – Vitality Stadium, Saturday 7^th February, 15:00 KO

Now, we move on to the game to come on Saturday afternoon between Bournemouth and Aston Villa, led by Andoni Iraola and Unai Emery respectively, with this game taking place at the Cherries’ Vitality Stadium on the South Coast on Saturday, 7th February. The game gets underway at 3pm.

Emery’s Villa are currently flying high in 3rd place as of the time of writing, with them having earned a total of no less than 46 points from their 24 matches to date. This has seen them become surprise title contenders as well as one of the strongest candidates to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this term.

They know that a top five finish is looking likely to be enough for them to enter European club football’s premier cup competition for the second time under Head Coach Emery.

As for hosts Bournemouth, they have dropped down to 12th with 33 points after previously being in the top four earlier in the campaign. They will still have ambitions to qualify for European Football, and know that victory against the Villa would give them a better chance of doing so for the first time in their history.

Liverpool vs. Manchester City – Anfield, Sunday 8^th February, 16:30 KO

Now for the headline fixture of the entire weekend for Matchweek 25 – the battle between Arne Slot’s Liverpool and the reigning Premier League Champions Manchester City, led by Spaniard Pep Guardiola. This game will be taking place at Anfield in the heart of Merseyside on the afternoon of Sunday 8th February, with kick-off taking place at 4:30pm.

Starting with Liverpool, they know that they can move back into the top four whilst also leapfrogging the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United if they win and results go the Reds’ way this weekend. A win against City would also be a statement triumph for Slot’s side going into the final few months of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The Reds will have optimism when it comes to their chances of victory, with them having defeated City on a number of occasions at Anfield in years gone by.

As for Guardiola and City, they will be looking to close the gap between themselves and league leaders Arsenal, knowing that three points could see them move to within just 3 points of their North London counterparts. Also, they could extend the gap between themselves and third place Villa from 1 point to 4 points by the end of the weekend if they lose to Bournemouth.

Despite Arsenal’s form this season, the Cityzens will still see themselves as strong candidates for the title, and they can take a step closer to retaining their title if the matches this weekend go their way.

Burnley vs. West Ham – Turf Moor, Saturday 7^th February, 15:00 KO

The next key match that we are taking a look at for Matchweek 25 is between relegation candidates Burnley and West Ham, which is a game that is set to be played at Turf Moor this weekend between sides that are led by Head Coaches Scott Parker and Nuno Espirito Santo, respectively. This crucial game in the battle to avoid the drop will be played on the afternoon of Saturday, 7th February, with kick-off taking place at 3pm.

The hosts’ chances of survival do look remote going into this weekend and the final weeks of the season, with them currently 11 points adrift of safety in 19th place. This is a must win game for the Clarets to try and avoid relegation – doing so would reduce the gap to West Ham to 3 points, and if Nottingham Forest lose, a win for Burnley sees them move to within 8 points of safety with 13 games left.

As for Nuno’s West Ham United, they are currently 6 points adrift of 17th place and safety, but they will still be optimistic of staying up, especially after an excellent recent run of form that has seen them win two of their last three games.

The Hammers know that this is a must win game for them as well, with the London club knowing that a win, paired with results elsewhere going their way, could see them end the weekend with just 3 points separating them and 17th place Nottingham Forest.

Brighton vs. Crystal Palace – Amex Stadium, Sunday 8^th February, 14:00 KO

We are now taking a look at a fierce rivalry that is set to resume this weekend between Brighton and Crystal Palace, with the game itself known as either the M23 Derby or the A23 Derby. This rivalry has roots that go all the way back to the mid-1970s.

Fabian Hürzeler’s Seagulls and Oliver Glasner’s Eagles will face each other at the Amex Stadium on the South Coast on the afternoon of Sunday 8th February, with kick-off taking place at 2pm.

Starting with Brighton, they are in 13th place on 31 points at the moment, and with a victory against Palace, they can climb up to 10th place if other results go their way and still have a great chance of securing European Football this term, whilst also getting bragging rights over their rival.

Meanwhile, Palace’s form has been troubling of late, but derbies are often matches where the form book can go out the window. The Eagles know that victory for them against Brighton would not only extend the gap between themselves and the drop, but it would see them climb above the Seagulls in the table, whilst getting the bragging rights as well.

Leeds United vs. Nottingham Forest – Elland Road, Friday 6^th February, 20:00 KO

Finally, we move on to the last key fixture that we are taking a look at here, and it is another crucial battle in the fight to avoid the drop, with Daniel Farke’s Leeds United and Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest sides set to meet at Elland Road on Friday night, with kick-off taking place at 8pm.

This will be a must win game for both Leeds and visitors Forest. Starting with Leeds, a recent upturn in form has seen them rise to 16th place with 26 points – there is currently a gap of 6 points between themselves and the relegation zone.

A crucial win against Nottingham Forest on Friday could see them go level on points with Crystal Palace and Spurs, whilst also potentially extending the gap between themselves and the drop to 9 points. It could also see them build a three point gap between them and Forest.

Moving on to Nottingham Forest, Sean Dyche’s side are sitting in 17th place at the moment, just one place above the drop, though they, just like Leeds, have a 6 point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.

Forest can also go level on points with Palace and Spurs with victory, with them also having a potential gap of 9 points between themselves and relegation, too, with results going their way.

Below are the other matches that are taking place during Matchweek 25 of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

·        Fulham vs. Everton (Craven Cottage, Saturday 7^th February, 15:00 KO)

·         Wolves vs. Chelsea (Molineux, Saturday 7^th February, 15:00 KO)

·         Newcastle United vs. Brentford (St. James’s Park, Saturday 7^th February, 17:30 KO)

All eyes will be on the enthralling and competitive action that is to take place across the Premier League on Matchweek 25 of the 2025/26 season. All clubs will be looking to strengthen their respective bids to realise their ambitions for the current campaign with a victory this weekend.

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