Getting back from the worldwide break, we use the Opta Energy Rankings to see who has the so-called hardest and best runs of upcoming Premier League fixtures.
We’re seven matchdays into the 2024-25 Premier League season, with a lot having occurred already, however a lot nonetheless to play for.
Following the most recent worldwide break, there are 4 video games for every staff between now and the subsequent one, so it’s time for us to look forward and see how excessive the hurdles are that await them. We’ll additionally look additional forward to the subsequent 10 outings for each staff.
After seven video games, it was deemed that Liverpool had loved the kindest begin and Wolves skilled probably the most troublesome primarily based on the common opponent ranking in keeping with the Opta Energy Rankings.
Wanting forward, Arne Slot’s league leaders have a harder run on the horizon, at the very least on paper, whereas others will fancy their possibilities of transferring up the desk with a kinder fixture listing than they have been handed within the first seven.
When it comes to the subsequent 4 matchdays, it’s Bournemouth who’ve the toughest set of league fixtures. The Cherries will tackle Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester Metropolis and Brentford, so won’t be the envy of many over the subsequent few weeks.
Chelsea have made a constructive begin to life beneath Enzo Maresca, however larger assessments await as their upcoming video games towards Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal are judged to be the second hardest, whereas Brighton’s run is third with fixtures towards Newcastle, Wolves, Liverpool and Man Metropolis.
Liverpool have gone from having the best run to the fourth hardest. Slot’s males tackle Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton, giving them a mean opponent ranking of 91.4 earlier than the subsequent worldwide break. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners aren’t far behind with a run of Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea, a mean opponent ranking of 90.7.
On the different finish of the size, Leicester Metropolis secured their first win of the season final day out towards Bournemouth, and in concept they’ve a fantastic likelihood to push on. Steve Cooper’s Foxes tackle Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich City and Man Utd of their subsequent 4.
Everton had the fifth best first seven video games in keeping with our rankings, and issues aren’t but getting any harder for the Toffees as they’ve the second easiest subsequent 4, with a mean opponent ranking of 84.0. Clearly the tougher video games will arrive finally – as we’ll quickly get to – so Sean Dyche might actually do with accruing factors rapidly, which he’ll hope occurs towards Ipswich, Fulham, Southampton and West Ham.
Man Metropolis’s upcoming video games towards Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Brighton are thought of the third kindest, whereas Brentford and Ipswich’s runs of video games are virtually equivalent by way of issue, with respective common opponent rankings of 85.7 and 85.8.
What about past that, although?
each staff’s subsequent 10 video games, which can deliver us to simply two video games shy of the midway level of the season, Liverpool have maybe unsurprisingly gone from the best run of video games to the hardest. Slot’s facet have made a superb begin to the season and sit prime of the desk, however some have argued that it’s partly been all the way down to a sort run of fixtures.
Eight of Liverpool’s subsequent 10 opponents are at present within the Premier League’s prime half, with solely Southampton and Everton within the backside half, and a Merseyside derby isn’t a easy activity for the Reds. Their common opponent ranking shall be a mighty 89.8.
Seven of Southampton’s subsequent 10 opponents at present reside within the prime 10, whereas solely two of Crystal Palace’s do, so Russell Martin and Oliver Glasner’s groups – each within the relegation zone as issues stand – should increase their video games to search out much-needed factors earlier than Christmas.
Arsenal have the tenth hardest run of video games, which Arteta will take at this level, however title rivals Man Metropolis are judged to have the fifth best, regardless that their fixtures embody video games towards Tottenham, Liverpool, Man Utd and Aston Villa.
Erik ten Hag might do with some wins very quickly and can hope to start out with one at dwelling to Brentford on Saturday. Man Utd have the ninth best run over their subsequent 10, whereas Everton’s duties do finally get tougher as they face United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea amongst others earlier than Christmas.
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