Complete Line-Up: 2025/26 Kicks Off, Referees, VAR Teams Confirmed for English Premier League Matchweek One

The 2025/26 Premier League campaign gets underway this weekend, starting under the Friday night lights at Anfield, where reigning champions Liverpool will host Bournemouth on 15 August, Sport360NG reports.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has released the list of referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, and VAR teams assigned to the first round of fixtures. The announcement, dated 11 August, was published on the organisation’s website and accessed by our correspondent on Tuesday.

With a new season comes fresh scrutiny on officiating, particularly after last year’s intense debates over VAR decisions and sideline disputes. PGMOL will be aiming for a smooth and controversy-free start as both veteran and emerging referees take charge of the curtain-raiser matches.

Matchweek 1 Appointments

Friday, 15 August

Liverpool vs Bournemouth – 20:00
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Craig Taylor
Fourth official: Farai Hallam
VAR: Michael Oliver
Assistant VAR: Thomas Bramall

Saturday, 16 August

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United – 12:30
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Nick Hopton
Fourth official: Simon Hooper
VAR: Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR: Tim Robinson

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham – 15:00
Referee: Sam Barrott
Assistants: Tim Wood, Wade Smith
Fourth official: Tom Bramall
VAR: Matt Donohue
Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan

Sunderland vs West Ham United – 15:00
Referee: Robert Jones
Assistants: Nick Greenhalgh, Mat Wilkes
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Natalie Aspinall

Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley – 15:00
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring
Fourth official: Adam Herczeg
VAR: Neil Davies
Assistant VAR: John Brooks

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City – 17:30
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Marc Perry
Fourth official: David Webb
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR: Richard West

Sunday, 17 August

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford – 14:00
Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistants: Eddie Smart, Blake Antrobus
Fourth official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Andy Madley
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace – 14:00
Referee: Darren England
Assistants: Ian Hussin, Akil Howson
Fourth official: Michael Salisbury
VAR: James Bell
Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn

Manchester United vs Arsenal – 16:30
Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
Fourth official: Jarred Gillett
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Steve Meredith

Monday, 18 August

Leeds United vs Everton – 20:00
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistants: Dan Cook, Lee Betts
Fourth official: Andrew Kitchen
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Simon Bennett