The Premier League fixture list is finally here, and while it’s far too early to predict where every team will finish, some clubs have clearly been dealt a tougher hand than others.
Nobody wins or loses a Premier League season in August or September, but a difficult start can quickly change the mood around a football club.
A difficult run in the opening weeks can quickly pile on the pressure, especially for managers trying to settle into a new job or teams hoping to build on an impressive campaign.
Using the Opta Power Rankings as a guide, we break down which four Premier League teams have the toughest opening five games.
One thing is certain – if these four teams come through the opening weeks with plenty of points, they’ll have earned them.
Bournemouth – Opta rating of 93.3
If Marco Rose was hoping for a gentle introduction to Premier League football, he certainly isn’t getting one.
According to Opta, the Cherries actually have the highest ‘average opponent rating’ at 93.3.
Bournemouth kick off away at Manchester City, Pep-less or not, it’s far from ideal. They then host Everton before travelling to Newcastle.
Brentford then visit the Vitality Stadium before Andoni Iraola returns with Liverpool in what promises to be one of the most intriguing fixtures of the opening five weeks.
Three of Bournemouth’s first five games are at home, but that doesn’t make life much easier when Liverpool, Everton and Brentford are among the visitors.
Rose won’t be judged after a handful of matches – maybe he would at other clubs – but an encouraging start would go a long way towards settling any early nerves.
Sunderland – Opta rating of 93.2
Sunderland surprised plenty of people last season by finishing seventh and securing Europa League football in their first season back in the Premier League.
This year won’t be any easier. In fact, it will likely be even harder.
With an Opta rating just one tenth less than that of Bournemouth, they will need to pull it out of the bag again.
The Black Cats face Arsenal and Manchester City within their opening five fixtures, while balancing domestic football with European commitments will make life even more demanding.
Régis Le Bris showed last season that his side can compete with anyone when they’re at their best, but squad depth will be tested much earlier than he would have liked.
A strong start would send another message that last season wasn’t a one-off.
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Coventry – Opta rating of 92.8
After ending their long wait for Premier League football, Coventry have been handed one of the toughest fixture lists imaginable. Nothing like a baptism of fire, eh?
Frank Lampard’s side begin with a trip to defending champions Arsenal before hosting fellow promoted Hull City. Not too bad…
Just when they might think things are settling down, they head to Man City for another huge test.
There’s no easing into life in the top flight and there are no easy games, but it’s still a rough start.
The positive for Coventry is that these are ‘free hits’. Nobody expects them to take points away from Arsenal or City, so any result would be a huge bonus and could provide real momentum.
Brighton – Opta rating of 92.6
Brighton’s opening few matches look fairly manageable, but the fixture list becomes far less forgiving as the weeks go on.
Looking across the opening 5 games, the Seagulls have one of the toughest starts in the league.
They open with games against Aston Villa and Chelsea. They then get somewhat of a break facing Leeds and Coventry. Then it’s back to Premier League reality with Arsenal making the journey south.
If you did those over 10 games, Brighton might very well top the list. They face back-to-back away trips to Liverpool and Man City after their opening five. It’s a cruel world.
Similar to Sunderland and Bournemouth, Brighton now have European football to add to the mix this season as well, so keeping a balance might be difficult.
If Brighton come through that period with plenty of points still on the board, they will be more than happy.
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