The 2026-27 Premier League season is set to kick off on Friday, and while the familiar rivalries return, the English top flight has some alterations this campaign. From evolved rules to new faces and broadcast changes, there is plenty to catch up on before a ball is kicked.

Source: i.guim.co.uk

Law Changes

The Premier League has some law and rule changes this season, aimed at reducing time-wasting and improving the overall flow of the game. The first change will lead to a crackdown on time-wasting during throw-ins and goal-kicks. Referees will be able to start a countdown of five seconds if they believe players are ticking down the clock. If players take more than five seconds once the countdown has been enforced, the goal-kick becomes a corner, and the throw-in is reversed.

Source: i.guim.co.uk

Another change will increase the time a player has to leave the pitch if they are injured from 30 seconds to a minute. However, this rule will not apply if a foul that received a card led to the injury or other unusual circumstances. Tactical timeouts by goalkeepers going down injured will also be limited, with managers required to choose another player to leave the pitch for one minute. Substitutions will need to take just 10 seconds; if a player takes longer than that to leave the pitch, their replacement will not be able to come on for a further minute.

Source: i.guim.co.uk

Video assistant referee (VAR) interventions will also see some changes. VARs will now be able to intervene on second yellow cards if they have been shown in error. However, they cannot tell a referee to issue a second yellow if one is not shown. VARs will also be able to get involved where an attacking foul happens before a set piece is taken, which leads to a penalty, a goal, or a disciplinary sanction. They will be able to intervene to have the set piece retaken.

Managerial Appointments

This season, the defending champions, Arsenal, will have the longest-serving manager in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta has been in charge since 2019 and delivered his first title last season. Aston Villa’s Unai Emery is second on the list, with Leeds’ Daniel Farke third. The upcoming campaign will set a record for the most new managers at the start of a Premier League season, with nine new names in the dugout.

Among the new managers are Marco Rose at Bournemouth, Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace, Álvaro Arbeloa at Fulham, Gary O’Neil at Ipswich Town, Andoni Iraola at Liverpool, Enzo Maresca at Manchester City, Matthias Jaissle at Newcastle, and Oliver Glasner at Nottingham Forest.

Biggest Signings

There have been hundreds of signings in this summer’s transfer window, and many have caught fans’ attention. Here are five to keep an eye on for this upcoming season:

• Elliot Anderson: Nottingham Forest to Manchester City. Anderson’s £116m move to Manchester City was a record transfer for a British player, but he has since moved to Manchester City’s renovated midfield. • Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa to Chelsea. The versatile forward was the player to eclipse Anderson’s record, with Chelsea paying £117m for the Aston Villa star. • Bruno Guimarães: Newcastle to Arsenal. This move was an astute one for the Premier League holders, adding depth to Arsenal’s engine room. • Gonzalo García: Real Madrid to Fulham. García became a regular first-team presence for Real Madrid last season and has followed his manager to Fulham. • Thomas Meunier: Lille to Sunderland. Sunderland have signed an experienced international in Meunier, who has amassed 83 caps for Belgium and won 14 trophies across his club career.

New Faces on Match of the Day

The BBC’s Match of the Day will feature new pundits this season, including former Brentford and Spurs manager Thomas Frank, plus former players Toby Alderweireld, Robbie Keane, and Ashley Young. The show will also see some slight changes, with on-field discussions between players and referees to be aired during live broadcasts, but only trialled first and not present during the opening weekend.

The Premier League will remain the live TV broadcaster for the UK, with Sky Sports and TNT Sports retaining their rights. The BBC will continue to show highlights on Match of the Day, but the fantasy Premier League podcast Fantasy 606 will no longer be aired.