Premier League Matchday 4 Preview: Manchester Derby, Arsenal & Liverpool Lead the Charge
The Premier League is back for Matchday 4, and the weekend brings its first Manchester derby of the 2026-27 season alongside major tests for Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Saturday, September 12 begins with seven fixtures, while Sunday brings the headline clash at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Manchester City. Leeds vs Newcastle then closes the round on Monday night. The full Matchday 4 schedule runs from September 12 to September 14.
Premier League Matchday 4 Fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (UK) | Kick-off (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 12 | Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest | 3:00 PM BST | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Bournemouth vs Brentford | 3:00 PM BST | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Chelsea vs Hull City | 3:00 PM BST | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town | 3:00 PM BST | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Liverpool vs Fulham | 3:00 PM BST | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Tottenham vs Everton | 5:30 PM BST | 9:30 PM |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Sunderland vs Arsenal | 8:00 PM BST | 12:00 AM Sep 13 |
| Sun, Sep 13 | Coventry City vs Brighton | 2:00 PM BST | 6:00 PM |
| Sun, Sep 13 | Manchester United vs Manchester City | 4:30 PM BST | 8:30 PM |
| Mon, Sep 14 | Leeds United vs Newcastle United | 8:00 PM BST | 12:00 AM Sep 15 |
Kick-off times are listed in UK time and Pakistan Standard Time. Saturday's Sunderland vs Arsenal fixture has been moved to 8:00 PM BST following Arsenal's midweek Champions League match.
Manchester United vs Manchester City: The Match of the Weekend
Sunday, September 13 — Old Trafford
The first Manchester derby of the season arrives with City carrying a perfect league record. Enzo Maresca's side have won all three matches, while United have endured a more uneven start that includes a surprise defeat to newly promoted Hull City and a 2-2 draw at Everton.
For Michael Carrick, the derby is an early opportunity to show that United can compete with the strongest sides. For City, it is a chance to maintain their 100% start and underline their title credentials.
Arsenal Face a Different Kind of Test at Sunderland
Arsenal travel to Sunderland looking to maintain their perfect league start. The defending champions have taken nine points from their first three matches, including a statement 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea last weekend.
The unusual 8:00 PM BST kick-off adds another talking point. The fixture was moved from the traditional early Saturday slot because Arsenal played Napoli in the Champions League in midweek.
Liverpool Look to Build Momentum Against Fulham
Liverpool welcome Fulham to Anfield after finally recording their first league win of the season. Alexander Isak scored twice in a 2-0 victory at Ipswich last weekend, giving Andoni Iraola's side a much-needed boost.
Fulham, meanwhile, arrive after a difficult start and will need to contain Liverpool's attacking threat while trying to improve a defensive record that has already attracted scrutiny.
Chelsea vs Hull: Can the Promoted Side Stay Unbeaten?
Chelsea return home to face Hull City, who have made an impressive start to life back in the Premier League. Hull have yet to concede in their opening three league matches, although they dropped their first points in a goalless draw with Aston Villa.
Chelsea will want a response after their unbeaten start was ended by Arsenal. Xabi Alonso's side have shown plenty of attacking ambition, but this is another opportunity to prove they can turn possession and chances into points.
Tottenham vs Everton: Pressure Builds
Tottenham host Everton in Saturday's evening fixture. Spurs are still looking for their first league win after a difficult opening period, while Everton have already shown they can be dangerous after earning a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
Other Matchday 4 Fixtures to Watch
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
Villa are still searching for their first league win and first goal of the campaign, while Forest will look to build on their unbeaten start.
Bournemouth vs Brentford
A physical matchup between two sides capable of making the game uncomfortable, with Bournemouth looking to turn promising performances into wins.
Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town
Palace return home after their first win of the season, while Ipswich need a response after losing to Liverpool.
Coventry City vs Brighton
Coventry have shown they can compete in the top flight despite losing narrowly to Manchester City last weekend.
Leeds United vs Newcastle United
Both sides enter Monday's meeting unbeaten, making it an intriguing final match of Matchday 4.
What to Expect From Matchday 4
Matchday 4 has the ingredients of the season's first major checkpoint. Arsenal and Manchester City have both made perfect starts, Liverpool have finally opened their account with a win, Chelsea remain in the early title conversation, and Manchester United now face the biggest test of their campaign.
With the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Arsenal's trip to Sunderland and Liverpool's Anfield meeting with Fulham among the weekend's biggest attractions, Matchday 4 could begin to separate the early contenders from the chasing pack.