Why Manchester United face tougher opening fixtures test than Premier League rivals

Manchester United have one of the toughest starts to the 2023/24 Premier League season after the full fixture list was revealed.

Erik ten Hag's side host Wolves on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford. They then visit Ange Postecolgou's Tottenham Hotspur with home matches against Nottingham Forest and a trip to the Emirates following that.

Based on last season's Premier League standings, only four teams have a tougher opening four matches. United's opponents’ average finishing position last season was 9.8, underlying the tough nature of their start in August.

Newcastle United have the most difficult beginning to the season, though.The Magpies host Aston Villa on the opening day, before travelling to champions Manchester City, then facing Liverpool at home and Brighton away from home, giving their opposition an average league position of 4.8 last year.

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They are followed by Fulham (7.3), Bournemouth (9.0) and Wolves (9.3). Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning Manchester City side have one of the easiest starts, in theory.

Although they face Newcastle, City also face newly-promoted Burnley and Sheffield United in the opening four rounds, giving their opponents an average league position of 14.3 last season, with former Championship sides given the position of 21, 22 and 23 for the purposes of the calculation.

Only Chelsea have an easier start to the season, as they play Liverpool, Luton Town and Nottingham Forest at home, with a trip to West Ham their only away game in the first four, and an average league position of 14.5 for their opposition last year. Following City and Chelsea, West Ham (14.0),