Just 82 days on from the final day of last season the Premier League returns on Friday night – the opening game seeing defending champions Liverpool host Bournemouth.
Then on Sunday, Palace return to league action when we make the short journey over to west London to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
This kickstarts a nine-month odyssey that will end with a Sunday afternoon clash with Arsenal on May 24th 2026.
But before we get ahead of ourselves let’s look at what new features there are to watch out for in England’s top-flight this season. Here’s a selection of things that may catch the eye…
One of the biggest rule changes for the new campaign will see goalkeepers punished for holding onto the ball for longer than eight seconds.
Should the keeper hold onto the ball beyond the referee’s count, a corner will be awarded to the opposing team. Referees will offer a warning with a five-second countdown. The law aims to clamp down on keepers wasting time and running down the clock without punishment.
One other noticeable rule change comes in the form of penalty kicks. If a player accidentally touches the ball twice when taking their spot-kick, they will be allowed to re-take, if they scored. Previously this situation would have resulted in an indirect free-kick.
If a player double-touches and misses they won't be awarded a re-take.
Referees have also been instructed to clamp down on deliberate holding this season, particularly in terms of set-piece scenarios such as corners and free-kicks.
In addition, only captains will be allowed to approach referees during Premier League matches this season. Yellow cards can be shown to players who approach officials without permission and behave in a disrespectful manner.
Referees will also wear bodycams for certain games, with the feed to be shown on television coverage, although any controversial incidents will be omitted.
One of the biggest changes comes to perhaps the fundamental ingredient of any match – the actual football.
For 25 years Nike were the official ball supplier for the Premier League, producing their fair share of classic designs along the way.
But Puma are now taking over the contract and will be supplying the PUMA Orbita Ultimate PL ball for 2025/26.
According to the Premier League, the ball features 12 evenly sized panels that ensure precise weight distribution, keeping it perfectly balanced.
Puma supplied the match balls for last season's Carabao Cup, so it should feel fairly familiar.
The number of games broadcast live in the UK will increase this year as a new domestic television rights cycle begins.
At least 267 games will be shown live – and this number could still increase. That is because the new package ensures that all non-Saturday 3pm games will be televised this year.
If clubs progress in Europe that could mean more games needing to be switched to a Sunday afternoon, with all of those being broadcast live.
Sky Sports and TNT Sports are the rights holders, Sky set to show at least 215 games, with TNT, primarily in the Saturday lunchtime slot but also over two midweek rounds, showing 52 matches.
Sky will show games that are rearranged due to European fixtures, meaning an expanded ‘Supersized Super Sunday’ offering on certain match weeks.
Naturally this may mean a high level of fixture date changes this year, particularly if Premier League clubs go far in European competition, with nine English sides playing in continental competition this year.
Amazon are no longer covering any games live. The BBC will continue to show highlights via its Match of the Day programmes after agreeing a deal with the Premier League.
Supporters should note that all Premier League fixtures are subject to change.
Remember that very Palace fixture is added automatically to the Official Palace App, where we'll notify you of any fixture changes as soon as they happen.
One of the biggest goodbyes at the end of the 2024/25 season came at Everton, who after 132 years, departed Goodison Park – although it will continue to host the women’s side.
From 2025/26 onwards they will play games at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Situated on Bramley-Moore Dock on the picturesque Liverpool waterfront, the new digs holds 52,000 supporters.
The first competitive match at the stadium comes on Sunday, August 24, against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Palace are currently scheduled to visit Everton’s new home on October, 4th – however this will be rescheduled if we progress to the UEFA Conference League league phase.
