Premier League Opening Weekend on Irish TV: Fixtures, Channels and Times
The Premier League returns on 21 August as champions Arsenal host promoted Coventry City at the Emirates in the Friday-night opener. Arsenal begin their title defence after ending a 22-year wait for the trophy, while Coventry prepare for their first top-flight match in 25 years.
Irish viewers have several live games to follow across the weekend, with coverage spread across Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Premier Sports. Anyone interested in the betting markets can also check the latest Irish betting bonuses before deciding whether to place a bet.
Premier League opening weekend fixtures and Irish TV channels
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off | Irish TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 21 Aug | Arsenal v Coventry City | 20:00 | Sky Sports |
| Sat 22 Aug | Hull City v Manchester United | 12:30 | TNT Sports |
| Sat 22 Aug | Everton v Crystal Palace | 15:00 | No scheduled live broadcast |
| Sat 22 Aug | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | 15:00 | No scheduled live broadcast |
| Sat 22 Aug | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | 15:00 | Premier Sports 1 — ROI |
| Sat 22 Aug | Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur | 17:30 | Sky Sports |
| Sun 23 Aug | Brighton v Aston Villa | 14:00 | Sky Sports |
| Sun 23 Aug | Manchester City v Bournemouth | 14:00 | Sky Sports |
| Sun 23 Aug | Newcastle United v Liverpool | 16:30 | Sky Sports |
| Mon 24 Aug | Fulham v Chelsea | 20:00 | Sky Sports |
All kick-off times below are Irish time. The Premier League fixture list and Sky’s six opening-weekend selections are confirmed by Sky Sports, while TNT Sports has Hull v Manchester United as its first live league game of the season. Republic of Ireland listings have Nottingham Forest v Leeds as the Premier Sports Saturday 3pm selection.
The three games to know immediately
Arsenal v Coventry starts the entire season. It is a sharp step up for Frank Lampard’s Championship winners: an away match against the defending champions under the Emirates lights.
Hull v Manchester United gives TNT Sports its first Premier League broadcast of 2026/27. Hull are another of the promoted clubs, so two newcomers face heavyweight opposition within the first two fixtures of the weekend.
Newcastle v Liverpool is the headline Sunday evening game. It kicks off at 16:30 after Sky’s unusual double-header at 14:00.
Which Premier League games are on Sky Sports in Ireland?
Sky Sports has six matches across the opening round:
- Arsenal v Coventry City
- Brentford v Tottenham
- Brighton v Aston Villa
- Manchester City v Bournemouth
- Newcastle v Liverpool
- Fulham v Chelsea
Arsenal v Coventry betting markets to watch
There is little appeal in treating a short-priced favourite as an automatic bet simply because Arsenal are champions. The more useful approach is to compare how the price changes when goals, handicaps or Coventry scoring are brought into the equation.
*BetVictor’s published Arsenal–Coventry market had the following decimal prices when checked. Odds can move before kick-off.
Opening-weekend storylines worth watching
Coventry thrown straight into the deep end
There is no gentle reintroduction to the Premier League. Coventry won promotion as Championship champions and now return to the top flight for the first time in 25 years with a trip to the reigning champions.
Three promoted clubs are immediately visible
Coventry face Arsenal on Friday, Hull host Manchester United in TNT’s early game and Ipswich welcome Sunderland at 15:00 on Saturday. Hull completed the promoted trio through the play-offs.
Two Sky matches kick off together on Sunday
Brighton–Aston Villa and Manchester City–Bournemouth both begin at 14:00. Sky has expanded its Premier League coverage and will use simultaneous Sunday afternoon matches on a number of weekends this season.
