A fixture list to excite Hull City fans, but 2027 holds most promise for Leeds United

But there was something about Hull City's first Premier League fixture list for a decade to get the juices flowing. Leeds United's somehow felt more low-key, but still pretty demanding regardless.

Part of it, of course, is that it is so long since the Tigers have been able to plan trips to Old Trafford, Anfield, Ashburton Grove et al. The magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Everton's shiney new Bramley Moore Dock, and even Brentford's cosier Community Stadium are new venues for the club to visit – scheduled to be their last three trips of the campaign.

But home is where the highlights are for the Tigers.

They start off in East Yorkshire with a 12.30pm visit from the most glamorous Premier League side of all, a revitalised Manchester United, on Saturday, August 22.

Liverpool pop in on Boxing Day – back in the Premier League calendar after last season's bad decision to skip it because it fell on the wrong day – and a Yorkshire derby at home to Leeds United rounds off 2026.

Hull finish up at home too, against Newcastle United on May 30 – and that could be important. Some might say it is good news if it still is, with the step up from Championship to Premier League remaining a big one, no matter what Leeds and Sunderland did last season.

Starting with a win to get ahead of the point-per-game line was big for Leeds in 2025-26 and in both seasons they avoided Premier League relegation, the bulk of Hull’s points were gained in the first 19 games.

The bad news for them is Manchester United have never lost to a newly-promoted side on the opening day in the top division. On the other hand, Hull's 60 per cent opening-day win percentage is the second best of any side to have played multiple Premier League seasons. Just do not ask whose is better.

Good though 2025-26 was, 2026-27 will more than likely be another relegation battle for Leeds too, and although they do not come up against the big boys early on, getting off to a good start may not be easy for them.

Having requested to begin away to give the builders more time to work on the Elland Road expansion, they have been sent to Nottingham Forest's City Ground, where they have lost on their last four visits, stretching back nine years.

First at home are Brentford, who have drawn all three of their Premier League games at Leeds' home, where the capacity will be unchanged, but the foundations are being put in place for the least disruptive possible extension.

Brighton and Hove Albion are not the first team most Leeds fans will have scanned for, but as Europa League qualifiers they are worthy of respect. By playing there on the first weekend of September, the travelling Whites should at least have plenty of daylight to travel back in unless the television companies deal them a duff hand.

The pattern of the games makes a difference, with Hull chairman Acun Ilicali saying beforehand he wanted "medium (difficulty) starts, then light, hard and then medium."

With Chelsea and Newcastle United away, and Aston Villa at home too, before the first international break – now a momentum-breaking three-week September/October whopper – the start is arguably harder than that, although the end of 2026 (Bournemouth, Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool and Leeds) and February/March – Liverpool, Manchester City, Leeds, Villa and Chelsea before the international break – are the real tough spells.

This, though, is a Hull team at their best against the Championship's strongest teams in 2025-26.

Likewise, as your first three aways games after November's international break, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool are pretty demanding for Leeds, but facing those three opponents (one win, one loss, one draw) took their season to the next level last November/December.

The "light" part of their calendar is a 10-game stretch from late January to mid-April where the only Champions League side they face is Villa, at home.

The need to build confidence early-season should not be as great now they are no longer new kids on the block, and this is the time to get their foot down and go on a run.

Given their dismal record in the capital they should be hoping a second consecutive season ending in London – Crystal Palace this time – is as irrelevant as May’s trip to West Ham United was, for them at least.

Of course you can analyse till the cows come home, ultimately everyone will play everyone, and when you collect the 40 points both teams should be targeting is neither here nor there so long as you do.

With TV yet to have its wicked way and fewer Saturday 3pm kick-offs than ever likely with over 200 games broadcast and nine teams in European competition, what was announced on Friday morning was no more than a rough outline.

But fixtures release day is always one to whet the appetite. If they were not already, Hull supporters will be counting the days now.

For the full Leeds United fixture list, click here

For the full Hull City fixture list, click here