The 2026/27 Premier League season kicked off on 23 August with three fixtures that put new managers squarely in the spotlight, with dugouts across the division reflecting a summer of significant change.

Maresca's City face Rose's Bournemouth

Enzo Maresca took charge of Manchester City for his first Premier League match, hosting Bournemouth in what amounted to a battle between two freshly installed coaches. Bournemouth are now under the direction of Marco Rose, who stepped in after Andoni Iraola departed the south-coast club.

Iraola leads Liverpool to Newcastle

Iraola, of course, did not go far — he is now the man in charge at Liverpool, and his first assignment on the road brought him to St. James' Park to face Newcastle United. Newcastle themselves are navigating a new era after Eddie Howe left the club in the summer, with Matthias Jaissle appointed as his successor in the Tyneside dugout.

Emery's Villa visit Hurzeler's Brighton

The third fixture of the day saw Aston Villa travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion. Fabian Hurzeler continued his project on the south coast, while Unai Emery — by contrast — is one of the division's most established figures. With Mikel Arteta remaining the longest-serving Premier League manager, Emery now holds the distinction of being the second-longest serving boss in the division, a measure of the remarkable turnover that has reshaped the top flight heading into this new campaign.