Premier League opener to honor Keegan with tributes

Newcastle United and Liverpool will meet at St James Park on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in a high-profile Premier League opening weekend fixture that will be marked by emotional tributes to the late football icon Kevin Keegan. The match, scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. BST kickoff, features two clubs beginning new eras under different managers.

Both teams enter the contest with significant changes to their leadership and squads. Newcastle is managed by Matthias Jaissle, who replaced Eddie Howe following the former boss's departure on July 31. Liverpool is led by head coach Andoni Iraola, who succeeded Arne Slot. The fixture represents a fresh start for both clubs, with Newcastle having finished 12th in the previous season and Liverpool placing fifth.

The day will begin with tributes to Kevin Keegan, who died in July at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer. Keegan was a revered figure for both fanbases, having played for and managed both clubs during his celebrated career. The gestures are expected to create an emotional atmosphere before the competitive action begins.

On the field, both managers face selection dilemmas. For Newcastle, Jaissle is expected to hand out several...