Revealed: Premier League's hardest and easiest starts ranked 1-20
Manchester United have the easiest start to the 2026-27 Premier League season, according to new analysis.
The much-anticipated fixture list was at last released at 10am on Friday morning, giving supporters their first real insight into how their clubs' seasons could shape up.
Opta Analyst has now used a system that scores teams one to 100, and predicts exactly which club has the so-called 'kindest' start to the season.
Michael Carrick will begin his first full campaign in charge of the Red Devils with a trip to Hull City, Opta's lowest ranked side with a rating of 82.2, before hosting Ipswich Town and travelling to Everton.
It isn't until September 12 that United face one of the 'Big Six', when Manchester City visit Old Trafford for the derby. The following week, United close out their opening five at Craven Cottage.
And, according to the analysis, that run is the easiest of any side in the Premier League to begin the season, beating those of Newcastle United and Liverpool, who sit in second and third place respectively.
Opta Analysts have used a system that scores teams one to 100, and predicts exactly which club has the so-called 'kindest' start to the season
Manchester United have the easiest run of any club to start the season, according to the analysis
Andoni Iraola's opening five games as Liverpool manager are meanwhile ranked the third easiest
It marks a huge opportunity for Carrick, appointed following a stellar spell as interim manager, to get his second campaign in the Old Trafford hotseat off to a blistering start.
New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will meanwhile get his reign on Merseyside underway with a tricky trip to St James' Park, though the four games which follow are, on paper, a lot easier.
The Spaniard's debut in Anfield's home dugout comes the following week against Nottingham Forest before clashes with Ipswich, Fulham and Bournemouth follow.
That run has been scored at a difficulty rating of 90.7, only marginally tougher than the Magpies' 89.9.
According to Opta, this season's frontrunners Man City and Arsenal are faced with identically difficult starts with a rating of 90.9.
The season's curtain-raiser will take place at the Emirates when the Gunners face newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday, August 21, in a fixture which will mark the Sky Blues' first in the top flight in 25 years.
Mikel Arteta's title defence then continues with a trip to Aston Villa and a home clash against Xabi Alonso's Chelsea before back-to-back away games against Sunderland and Brighton.
City, who are yet to appoint Pep Guardiola's successor, meanwhile welcome Bournemouth to the Etihad on the opening day of the season ahead of a difficult trip south to face Crystal Palace. Then come games against Coventry, United and Sunderland.
Frank Lampard and Coventry mark their return to the Premier League with a trip to Arsenal
That run could mark Enzo Maresca's first five in the City hotseat, with the Italian heavily linked with a return to management at the Etihad.
Elsewhere, his old club Chelsea, now led by former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, face a run scored with a difficulty rating of 91.4.
The Spaniard begins his Stamford Bridge tenure with a mouth-watering west London derby against Fulham before facing Brighton, Arsenal, Hull and Brentford.
But which club has been dealt the most difficult hand?
That title is reserved for Bournemouth, according to the system, who will go into the season without Iraola at the helm for the first time in three years.
The Cherries are yet to appoint a successor for the 43-year-old but whoever takes over will be tasked with a difficult opening-day trip to the Etihad.
The Dorset club then face Everton, Newcastle and Brentford before Iraola makes a much-anticipated return to the Vitality Stadium on matchday five.
Sunderland, who begin their campaign at Portman Road, are ranked as having the second easiest start, just ahead of Frank Lampard's Coventry.
After storming to the Championship title last season, the Midlands club host Hull City after their tricky opening day trip to the Emirates.
Coventry then travel to Man City before more winnable fixtures against Brighton and Nottingham Forest await.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
