The new 2026/27 Premier League season is set to begin, with all 20 clubs facing different challenges across their opening five matches.

While some teams have been handed favourable schedules that could allow them to build early momentum, others must immediately navigate difficult opponents and challenging away trips.

According to ESPN's assessment, which considers last season's performances, home advantage and summer squad changes, the opening five fixtures have been ranked from the toughest start at No. 20 to the easiest at No. 1.

Here is how every Premier League club's opening schedule compares.

20. Fulham — Toughest Start

First five fixtures:

• Chelsea — Home
• Sunderland — Away
• Crystal Palace — Home
• Liverpool — Away
• Manchester United — Home

Fulham face one of the most demanding opening schedules in the division.

A London derby against Chelsea begins the campaign before Fulham travel to Liverpool and later host Manchester United. With three difficult opponents among their first five games, Marco Silva's side will need to make the most of their other opportunities.

19. Bournemouth

First five fixtures:

• Manchester City — Away
• Everton — Home
• Newcastle United — Away
• Brentford — Home
• Liverpool — Home

Bournemouth's start is particularly challenging, beginning with a trip to Manchester City.

A visit to Newcastle follows, while Liverpool also arrive at the Vitality Stadium later in the opening sequence. With the club preparing for its first European campaign, the demanding schedule could test Marco Rose's squad immediately.

18. Coventry City

First five fixtures:

• Arsenal — Away
• Hull City — Home
• Manchester City — Away
• Brighton — Home
• Nottingham Forest — Away

Coventry return to the Premier League with an extremely difficult opening.

They travel to reigning champions Arsenal before facing Manchester City away in their third fixture. The promoted side will therefore have to target points against Hull, Brighton and Nottingham Forest.

17. Hull City

First five fixtures:

• Manchester United — Home
• Coventry City — Away
• Aston Villa — Home
• Chelsea — Away
• Newcastle United — Away

Hull's opening five contain several difficult assignments.

The newly promoted side face Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle, with Coventry providing the most obvious opportunity to pick up points.

16. Sunderland

First five fixtures:

• Ipswich Town — Away
• Fulham — Home
• Brentford — Away
• Arsenal — Home
• Manchester City — Away

Sunderland's first three matches offer opportunities to make a positive start, but the schedule becomes considerably tougher afterwards.

Arsenal visit before Sunderland travel to Manchester City, giving Régis Le Bris' team a difficult second half to their opening run.

15. Ipswich Town

First five fixtures:

• Sunderland — Home
• Manchester United — Away
• Liverpool — Home
• Crystal Palace — Away
• Everton — Away

Ipswich have two major tests early in their return to the top flight.

Manchester United away and Liverpool at home stand out, although games against Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Everton could provide opportunities to collect valuable points.

14. Nottingham Forest

First five fixtures:

• Leeds United — Home
• Liverpool — Away
• Tottenham Hotspur — Home
• Aston Villa — Away
• Coventry City — Home

Nottingham Forest have a mixed opening schedule.

The trips to Liverpool and Aston Villa are particularly difficult, but home matches against Leeds, Tottenham and Coventry give Oliver Glasner's side opportunities to build momentum.

13. Arsenal

First five fixtures:

• Coventry City — Home
• Aston Villa — Away
• Chelsea — Home
• Sunderland — Away
• Brighton — Away

Reigning champions Arsenal begin at home against newly promoted Coventry, giving Mikel Arteta's team an excellent opportunity to start with three points.

However, Aston Villa away, Chelsea at home and two tricky away fixtures against Sunderland and Brighton make the opening five more challenging than it initially appears.

12. Aston Villa

First five fixtures:

• Brighton — Away
• Arsenal — Home
• Hull City — Away
• Nottingham Forest — Home
• Tottenham Hotspur — Away

Aston Villa have two fixtures they would expect to win against Hull and Nottingham Forest.

However, Brighton away, Arsenal at home and Tottenham away represent significant tests for Unai Emery's side.

11. Newcastle United

First five fixtures:

• Liverpool — Home
• Tottenham Hotspur — Away
• Bournemouth — Home
• Leeds United — Away
• Hull City — Home

Newcastle's first two games are the main challenges, with Liverpool and Tottenham providing difficult tests.

After that, the schedule becomes considerably more manageable with Bournemouth, Leeds and Hull completing their opening five.

10. Everton

First five fixtures:

• Crystal Palace — Home
• Bournemouth — Away
• Manchester United — Home
• Tottenham Hotspur — Away
• Ipswich Town — Home

Everton benefit from three home matches in their first five fixtures.

Crystal Palace and Ipswich provide favourable opportunities at Goodison Park, while the visits to Bournemouth and Tottenham offer more difficult assignments.

9. Brighton & Hove Albion

First five fixtures:

• Aston Villa — Home
• Chelsea — Away
• Leeds United — Home
• Coventry City — Away
• Arsenal — Home

Brighton's schedule is challenging but gives them opportunities to compete in every match.

Chelsea away and Arsenal at home are the biggest tests, while Leeds and Coventry could provide valuable opportunities for points.

8. Chelsea

First five fixtures:

• Fulham — Away
• Brighton — Home
• Arsenal — Away
• Hull City — Home
• Brentford — Away

Xabi Alonso's Chelsea have a relatively favourable opening sequence despite an early trip to Arsenal.

All three away fixtures are within London, while home games against Brighton and Hull give Chelsea opportunities to build momentum.

7. Crystal Palace

First five fixtures:

• Everton — Away
• Manchester City — Home
• Fulham — Away
• Ipswich Town — Home
• Leeds United — Away

Manchester City at home is the obvious standout challenge.

The remaining four fixtures give Crystal Palace realistic opportunities to collect points and establish a positive start.

6. Brentford

First five fixtures:

• Tottenham Hotspur — Home
• Leeds United — Away
• Sunderland — Home
• Bournemouth — Away
• Chelsea — Home

Brentford's home form could be particularly important during this opening stretch.

They welcome Tottenham and Chelsea to their own ground, while away games against Leeds and Bournemouth appear more manageable.

5. Tottenham Hotspur

First five fixtures:

• Brentford — Away
• Newcastle United — Home
• Nottingham Forest — Away
• Everton — Home
• Aston Villa — Home

Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham have avoided facing any of the traditional 'big six' during their opening five matches.

There are still difficult fixtures against Brentford, Newcastle and Aston Villa, but Spurs have enough favourable opportunities to make a strong start.

4. Manchester City

First five fixtures:

• Bournemouth — Home
• Crystal Palace — Away
• Coventry City — Home
• Manchester United — Away
• Sunderland — Home

Manchester City have three home matches against Bournemouth, Coventry and Sunderland.

The Manchester derby away at Old Trafford is the biggest challenge, while Crystal Palace away could also prove difficult.

3. Manchester United

First five fixtures:

• Hull City — Away
• Ipswich Town — Home
• Everton — Away
• Manchester City — Home
• Fulham — Away

Manchester United begin against two newly promoted teams, Hull and Ipswich, giving them an opportunity to establish momentum quickly.

The Manchester derby at Old Trafford is the standout fixture, while Everton and Fulham away provide additional tests.

2. Liverpool

First five fixtures:

• Newcastle United — Away
• Nottingham Forest — Home
• Ipswich Town — Away
• Fulham — Home
• Bournemouth — Away

Liverpool face their biggest challenge immediately with a trip to Newcastle.

After that, however, Andoni Iraola's side have a sequence containing Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Fulham before another away game against Bournemouth.

The schedule gives Liverpool a strong opportunity to accumulate points early.

1. Leeds United — Easiest Start

First five fixtures:

• Nottingham Forest — Away
• Brentford — Home
• Brighton — Away
• Newcastle United — Home
• Crystal Palace — Home

Leeds United have been handed what ESPN ranks as the easiest opening schedule in the Premier League.

Daniel Farke's side avoid the league's biggest title contenders during their first five matches and have three home games in the sequence.

The opening run could therefore provide Leeds with an important platform as they look to establish themselves after promotion.

Premier League Opening Fixtures: Key Takeaways

• Fulham have the toughest opening five fixtures according to ESPN's ranking.
• Leeds United have the easiest start.
• Liverpool and Manchester United both have favourable schedules in the opening weeks.
• Manchester City face only one traditional top-six opponent in their first five games.
• Chelsea travel to Arsenal but otherwise have a relatively manageable opening.
• Arsenal begin their title defence at home against Coventry City.
• Coventry City and Hull City face difficult starts after promotion.
• Sunderland have a challenging second half to their opening five matches.
• Tottenham avoid the other traditional 'big six' clubs during their first five fixtures.
• Early results could be particularly important for promoted clubs trying to establish themselves in the Premier League.

Why the Opening Five Fixtures Matter

The opening weeks of a Premier League campaign rarely determine the final standings, but they can have a major influence on confidence and momentum.

Teams with favourable schedules have an opportunity to collect points before facing more difficult stretches later in the season. For newly promoted sides, meanwhile, early victories can provide crucial breathing room in the battle for survival.

For title contenders such as Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, strong starts will also be important as they attempt to establish themselves at the top of the table.

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