Three Premier League matches were scheduled for Sunday 23 August 2026, during the opening weekend.
The Sunday programme consisted of Brighton & Hove Albion versus Aston Villa, Manchester City versus AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United versus Liverpool. The first two began at 14:00 BST, while Newcastle–Liverpool followed at 16:30.
The schedule was shaped partly by Brighton’s participation in the UEFA Conference League qualification play-offs on the preceding Thursday. That European commitment helped explain why Brighton’s match and Manchester City’s match shared the 14:00 slot.
The number is sometimes mistaken for two because the Sunday schedule opened with two simultaneous matches. However, Newcastle United versus Liverpool made the full Sunday total three.