Skip to content

When does your 2018/19 season start? Key Premier League and European dates

 during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Manchester, England.
Image: Pep Guardiola's Man City will begin their season in the Community Shield on August 5

The new Premier League season starts on August 11, but champions Manchester City will be in action a little earlier.

The fixtures for the 2018/19 top-flight campaign will be released on June 14 but several clubs have competitive commitments before the opening weekend.

When do PL clubs start in Europe?

Manchester City CL group stage September 18-19
Manchester United CL group stage September 18-19
Tottenham CL group stage September 18-19
Liverpool CL group stage September 18-19
Chelsea EL group stage September 20
Arsenal EL group stage September 20
Burnley EL second qualifying round July 26

Burnley's qualification for the Europa League by finishing seventh in the Premier League means their first game will be on July 26, when they enter the tournament at the second qualifying stage. They will discover their opponents on June 19, five days after the Premier League fixtures are announced, and will face them for a second time on August 2.

Sean Dyche during the Premier League match between Burnley and Brighton and Hove Albion at Turf Moor
Image: Sean Dyche has brought Burnley back into Europe for the first time since 1967

Manchester City could add a first Community Shield medal to Pep Guardiola's trophy cabinet when they face either Manchester United or Chelsea at Wembley on August 5, depending on who wins the FA Cup final.

Vincent Kompany and his Manchester City teammates celebrate with the Premier League trophy as they're crowned champions at the Etihad Stadium
Image: Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in four years

The Sky Bet EFL will already have begun by then, with the first game of the season for the Championship, League One and League Two pencilled in for August 3.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Conor Coady (centre) and teammates celebrate winning promotion to the Premier League at at Molineux
Image: Wolverhampton Wanderers won the Championship after six years out of the top flight

Because of the changes to Champions League qualification, all four teams who qualified - Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool - will kick-off in the group stage, which get underway on September 18-19. They will find their three group-stage opponents on August 30, when the draw is made in Monaco.

Sadio Mane scores the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, Second Leg match between Roma and Liverpool at the Stadio Olimpico
Image: Liverpool are in their eighth Champions League final after beating Roma 7-6 on aggregate

Liverpool could end up in the UEFA Super Cup too, if they can get past Real Madrid in the Champions League final, with the one-off clash at the A Le Coq Arena in Tallinn on August 15.

Also See:

2018/19 season - key dates

June 14 PL fixtures announced
June 15 SPFL fixtures announced
June 21 EFL fixtures announced
June 26 CL qualifying starts
June 28 EL qualifying starts
July 26 EL second qualifying round
August 3-5 EFL season starts
August 4 SPFL season starts
August 5 Community Shield
August 11 PL season starts
w/c August 13 Carabao Cup starts
August 15 UEFA Super Cup
August 30 CL group draw
August 31 EL group draw
September 18-19 CL group stage starts
September 20 EL group stage starts

Arsenal and Chelsea will join Burnley in the Europa League, albeit in the group stage, with the draw on August 31 and the first group game on September 20.

Fantasy Head to Head
Fantasy Head to Head

Challenge a mate in our brand new Fantasy Football head-to-head mode. Play for free!

Around Sky