Every 25/26 Premier League Club Ranked by How Difficult Their First 5 Fixtures Are

Out of all 20 teams, Manchester United has been statistically assigned the most difficult schedule to begin the 2025–2026 Premier League season.

Every team competing in the top tier for the next season has been ranked by Opta Analysts based on how difficult their opening five games are. On Wednesday, June 18, the Premier League formally released the campaign’s schedule.

After a poor start to his rule, in which United finished in 15th place the previous season, Ruben Amorim simply cannot seem to find a break at Old Trafford. As the Red Devils begin the forthcoming season at home against championship contenders Arsenal, things don’t get any easier.

Despite a controversial refereeing decision, the Portuguese coach managed to complete the season with a victory over Aston Villa. The fact that his Villans have been given the easiest group of games will satisfy Unai Emery.

Man Utd and Arsenal Received the Most Difficult 2025–26 Premier League Starts
In the first game of the season, Amorim and Arteta clash.

Amorim’s soldiers have been given a terrible August-September schedule, so they won’t simply face Mikel Arteta’s Gunners at the beginning of the season. Their average opponent rating is 94.6, and they play three of “the big six”—Manchester City and Chelsea, to be exact.

Arsenal will play their prospective opponents for the Premier League title in an attempt to make a statement about their title credentials. Following the trip to Old Trafford, there will be matches against champions Liverpool and a potentially revitalized City. With games against Nottingham Forest and Leeds United also on the schedule, his team’s average opponent rating is 94.0.

Last season, there were a number of unexpected surprises, such as Bournemouth, who play Liverpool to start the season. After five games, including a trip to Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur, Andoni Iraola’s Cherries received a rating of 93.7.

In their first five games at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton has faced opponents with an average rating of 93.4. The first team to visit the Toffees’ new stadium is Brighton & Hove Albion, and David Moyes also has to contend with the Merseyside Derby.

In his first season of defending the league title, Arne Slot will oversee a number of high-profile games, including that one. In addition to a difficult trip to Newcastle United, whom they lost to in the Carabao Cup final, Liverpool faces an average rating of 93.3.

Difficulty of Premier League Fixtures (Toughest Five)

Rank:

Group:

The Initial Five Games

Average Rating of Opponents

United Manchester

Burnley (H), Manchester City (A), Arsenal (H), Fulham (A), and Chelsea (H)

94.6

The Arsenal

Manchester City (H), Nottingham Forest (H), Liverpool (A), Leeds United (H), and Manchester United (A)

94.0

The Bournemouth

Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Newcastle United (H), Brighton & Hove Albion (H), Tottenham Hotspur (A), and Liverpool (A)

93.7

Everton

Wolverhampton Wanderers (A), Leeds United (A), Brighton & Hove Albion (H), Aston Villa (H), and Liverpool (A)

93.4

Liverpool

Burnley (A), Everton (H), Newcastle United (A), Arsenal (H), and Bournemouth (H)

93.3

Man City’s comeback might be decisive in light of Leeds’ difficult return to the top division.

Although Wolverhampton Wanderers avoided relegation, Vitor Pereira will not have Matheus Cunha for the upcoming campaign. Although City’s trip to Molineux could be a rough start, he does have a respectable start to cope with, given an average rating of 93.1 against opponents like Bournemouth, Everton, and Leeds.

Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup, ending a 56-year trophy drought. The final is held the second matchweek. Eddie Howe’s team is rated 93.1 by five opponents, including Liverpool.

Being the first visitors to Everton’s new stadium, Leeds United had the most difficult schedule of the three promoted teams. A 93.0 rating also entails a trip to the Emirates and a matchup with Newcastle, a team that is in the Champions League.

Nottingham Forest, which almost missed out on Champions League participation, was without a doubt the biggest underdog story of the 2024–25 season. In addition to a similarly challenging league start amid testing against Palace and Arsenal, Nuno Espirito Santo will want to maintain Evangelos Marinakis’ satisfaction as they begin their first Europa Conference League campaign.

Despite their spectacular misstep, Manchester City has quickly reconstructed Guardiola’s team with the arrival of players like Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Guardiola wants to start the new season with a 92.7 opponent average, and victories over United, Tottenham, and Arsenal would help him achieve that.

The difficulty of Premier League fixtures (testing affairs)

Rank:

Group:

The Initial Five Games

Average Rating of Opponents

Wanderers of Wolverhampton

Newcastle United (A), Leeds United (H), Everton (H), Manchester City (H), and Bournemouth (A)

93.1

Newcastle United

Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Leeds United (A), Liverpool (H), Aston Villa (A), and Bournemouth (A)

93.1

Leeds United

Wolverhampton Wanderers (A), Fulham (A), Newcastle United (H), Everton (H), and Arsenal (A)

93.0

Forest of Nottingham

Burnley (A), Arsenal (A), West Ham United (H), Brentford (H), and Crystal Palace (A)

92.7

10.

City of Manchester

Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Manchester United (H), Wolverhampton Wanderers (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H), and Arsenal (A)

Chelsea and Spurs Could Build On CL Qualification

The London rivals have a mixed start to the new season

Under Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton & Hove Albion made an impression, and the youthful German manager will be eager to improve on an eighth-place result. Although his team starts with an opponent average rating of 92.4, it can be challenging to play City and Spurs.

After Tottenham Hotspur’s dismal 17th-place finish, Thomas Frank will be looking to show that he has what it takes to move the team up the ladder. However, with an average rating of 92.4, his Europa League winners won’t have it easy. Given how brilliantly the Dane played against Guardiola at the Gtech, a matchup with City will be intriguing.

Last season, Fulham was Liverpool’s worst opponent, and Marco Silva’s Cottagers begin the new campaign up against an average of 92.3 opponents. This includes a trip to Stamford Bridge at the end of August and the arrival of Amorim’s Red Devils.

In their first five games, Sunderland’s Wembley heroes won’t face any of the top five, and there may not be a finer way to squeak into the Premier League. Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats could like their chances against Brentford and West Ham after receiving a 91.9 rating for their first taste of the top level.

Chelsea returned to the Champions League when Enzo Maresca led the Blues to a fourth-place finish. With Palace and United among their first five opponents, they could deny their dominance and have a chance to fight for the title. Their rating is 91.3.

Difficulty of Premier League Fixtures (A Mixed Bag)

Rank:

Group:

The Initial Five Games

Average Rating of Opponents

11.

Albion, Brighton & Hove

Tottenham Hotspur (H), Manchester City (H), Bournemouth (A), Fulham (H), and Everton (A)

92.4

12.

Tottenham Hotspur

Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Burnley (H), Manchester City (A), Bournemouth (H), and West Ham United (A)

92.4

13.

Fulham

Manchester United (H), Chelsea (A), Leeds United (H), Brentford (H), and Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

92.3

14.

Sunderland

Burnley (A), Brentford (H), Crystal Palace (A), Aston Villa (H), and West Ham United (H)

91.9

15.

Chelsea

Manchester United (A), Brentford (A), Fulham (H), West Ham United (A), and Crystal Palace (H)

91.3

Crystal Palace and Aston Villa Lucked Out Glasner and Emery could have strong campaign debuts.

With an opponent average of 90.9, Aston Villa has the easiest start to the Premier League season. With games against newly promoted Sunderland and Brentford without Thomas Frank coming up, Emery can move over his ire at Old Trafford on May 25.

Oliver Glasner was the driving force behind Crystal Palace’s FA Cup victory, and his Eagles will play Villa in their opening five games to tie Villa for the same rating. They also play West Ham United, whom they defeated both at home and away during the previous campaign.

One of the biggest letdowns was West Ham, and Graham Potter has a task ahead of him: winning over supporters. A trip to Sunderland on the first weekend, along with games against Chelsea and Tottenham in London, are included in an opponent average of 91.0.

Burnley might be that team. It will be interesting to see if one of the new players can adjust to the Premier League. Despite facing United and Liverpool in two weeks, Scott Parker’s Clarets, the highest defensive team in England last season, return to the top division with a 91.1 opponent rating.

After Frank leaves, Brentford enters a new era, and whomever takes control will have to contend with Nottingham Forest, Villa, and Chelsea as their first five opponents. The Bees, who might also be without outstanding player Bryan Mbeumo due to United connections, could face a tough test with a 91.2 rating.

Problems with Premier League Fixtures (Easiest Five)

Rank:

Group:

The Initial Five Games

Average Rating of Opponents

16.

Brentford

Fulham (A), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (H), Nottingham Forest (A), and Aston Villa (H)

91.2

17.

Burnley

Sunderland (H), Manchester United (A), Liverpool (H), Nottingham Forest (H), and Tottenham Hotspur (A)