Man City fixture schedule could give Blues early Premier League title boost

Manchester City have the joint easiest start to the Premier League season - on paper at least. City open the season away to West Ham, who finished 7th in the table last season - and that’s as tough as it gets though in the club’s opening six rounds.

City's next five games are against Bournemouth (who finished 22nd in the football pyramid), Newcastle (who finished 11th), Crystal Palace (12th), Nottingham Forest (24th), and Aston Villa (14th).

Those opening six opponents had an average finishing league position of 15.0 last season, which is lower in the table than all but one other club’s opening six opponents.

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Wolves are also facing six opponents who finished 15.0 in the table on average last season.

Liverpool have the next easiest start on paper, facing opponents who finished 14.7 in the table on average. They’re followed by Arsenal (13.8), Tottenham Hotspur (13.3), Brentford (13.3), and Everton (12.2).

Fulham are at the other end of the scale, and have the toughest start to the season on paper. The Cottagers open the season at home to league runners-up Liverpool. That’s followed by games against Wolves (who finished 10th last season), Brentford (13th), Arsenal (5th), Brighton (9th) and Tottenham (4th).

Those clubs had an average finishing league position of 7.2 last season, which is higher up in the table than any other club’s opening six opponents.

Crystal Palace have the next toughest start to the season. Their opening six games are against clubs with an average finishing league position of 7.7 last season - Arsenal (5th), Liverpool (2nd), Aston Villa (14th), Manchester City (1st), Brentford (13th), and Newcastle