Which Premier League team has the toughest start to the 2025-26 season?

哪支英超球队在2025/26赛季开局最艰难？

By Colin Millar and Chris WeatherspoonJune 18, 2025Updated 6:57 pm

There may be two months to go until the 2025-26 Premier League season gets underway, but the release of the fixture list has whetted the appetite of fans across the division.

距离2025-26赛季英超联赛开打可能还有两个月，但赛程表的公布已经吊足了整个联赛球迷的胃口。

Consisting of 38 rounds of matches over nine months, with each team playing their 19 rivals once at home and once away, the opening few games are often decisive in building momentum to set the tone for the campaign, or derailing it through diminishing confidence.

联赛由九个月内的38轮比赛组成，每支球队与19个对手各打一次主场和一次客场。开局的几场比赛常常对建立势头、奠定赛季基调至关重要，也可能因信心受挫而打乱计划。

These early matches alone will not define a season but they play a significant role in shaping its course, and naturally attract the attention on fixture-release day.

仅凭这些早期比赛无法定义一个赛季，但它们对塑造赛季进程起着重要作用，并且在赛程公布日自然备受关注。

Liverpool's strong start last season provided Arne Slot's side with the platform to win the league but conversely, Crystal Palace won just one of their opening 13 league fixtures yet a turnaround in form saw them record a 12th-place finish and success in the FA Cup.

利物浦上赛季的强势开局为阿尔内·斯洛特的球队提供了夺冠的基础；但相反，水晶宫在开季前13场联赛中只赢了一场，然而状态的扭转让他们最终排名第12位并赢得了足总杯。

So, objectively, how tough is your team's start?

那么，客观地说，你的球队开局有多艰难？

The Athletic has ranked every Premier League club's opening five matches, based on last season's final table. We've added in the three promoted sides, Leeds United (champions), Burnley (runners-up) and Sunderland (play-off final winners), as the 18th, 19th and 20th hardest teams to play respectively based on rankings.

The Athletic根据上赛季最终积分榜，对每支英超俱乐部的前五场比赛进行了排名。我们加入了三支升班马——利兹联（冠军）、伯恩利（亚军）和桑德兰（附加赛决赛胜者）——在排名中分别被视为第18、19和20位最难对付的球队（即最弱的对手）。

We've added it up to give each team's start a 'difficulty value'. The higher the score, the harder it is. We've also removed the team concerned from their individual calculation (they can't play themselves), meaning opponents are ranked from one to 19. So playing Liverpool, last season's champions, is worth 19 points, while a fixture against play-off winners Sunderland is one point.

我们将分数相加，为每支球队的开局计算出一个“难度值”。分数越高，开局越艰难。我们在计算时也排除了球队自身（他们不能和自己比赛），这意味着对手排名从1到19（最弱到最强）。因此，对阵上赛季冠军利物浦价值19分，而对阵附加赛胜者桑德兰的比赛价值1分。

1. Manchester United

Ruben Amorim faces a definitive season at Old Trafford following a 15th-place finish and Europa League final defeat. United objectively face the toughest start to the 2025-26 campaign, playing three of last season's top four in the opening five fixtures.

在经历了联赛第15名和欧联杯决赛失利后，鲁本·阿莫林在老特拉福德面临一个决定性的赛季。曼联客观上面临着2025-26赛季最艰难的开局，前五场比赛将遭遇三支上赛季前四的球队。

A trip to Fulham and home game against newly-promoted Burnley are also up early for United, who can take solace that four of their opening five matches are in Manchester with the fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea both coming at Old Trafford.

客场挑战富勒姆和主场迎战新升班马伯恩利也是曼联早期的比赛任务。他们可以稍感安慰的是，前五场比赛中有四场在曼彻斯特进行，其中对阵阿森纳和切尔西的比赛都在老特拉福德。

赛程表: Arsenal, Fulham, Burnley, Manchester City, Chelsea

Total 'difficulty' value: 62

总‘难度’值: 62

2. Arsenal

Arsenal will be aiming for the league title this season after so many second-place finishes, but an opening-day trip to Old Trafford and an away game at Liverpool in matchday three present immediate challenges that could see Mikel Arteta's side lose early ground. The visits of Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City will each provide different stylistic challenges to test Arsenal's resolve.

在多次获得亚军之后，阿森纳本赛季将瞄准联赛冠军。但揭幕战客场挑战老特拉福德以及第三轮客场对阵利物浦，带来了可能让阿尔特塔的球队早早失分的直接挑战。主场迎战利兹联、诺丁汉森林和曼城，也将带来不同风格的考验，检验阿森纳的决心。

赛程表: Manchester United, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City

Total 'difficulty' value: 60

总‘难度’值: 60

3. Liverpool

Champions Liverpool open the Premier League season with a Friday night match at home to Bournemouth but the following two matches, away to Newcastle and at home to Arsenal, both saw dropped points last season. An early Merseyside derby at home to Everton completes a testing opening run, but ensures a first trip to their rival's new home at Hill Dickinson Stadium is pushed back until the second half of the campaign.

卫冕冠军利物浦将在周五晚主场对阵伯恩茅斯开启英超赛季，但接下来的两场比赛——客场对纽卡斯尔和主场对阿森纳——上赛季都曾丢分。紧接着主场对阵埃弗顿的默西塞德德比，完成了一个充满考验的开局赛程，但也确保了他们首次造访对手新主场（希尔·迪金森体育场）被推迟到了赛季下半程。

赛程表: Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley, Everton

Total 'difficult' value: 57

总‘难度’值: 57

4. Bournemouth

One of the surprise packages of 2024-25, Bournemouth won just one of their opening five fixtures last season and face another difficult start this time. However, after a daunting opening trip to Anfield, three of their next four games are at home while they have impressed in recent trips to Tottenham.

作为2024-25赛季的惊喜球队之一，伯恩茅斯上赛季开局五场仅赢一场，这次又面临另一个艰难的开局。不过，在令人畏惧的安菲尔德揭幕客场之旅后，接下来的四场比赛中有三场是主场作战，而且他们最近在客场对阵托特纳姆热刺的表现令人印象深刻。

赛程表: Liverpool, Wolves, Tottenham, Brighton, Newcastle

Total 'difficulty' value: 55

总‘难度’值: 55

并列第5. Newcastle United

With Newcastle back in the Champions League, Eddie Howe's side will prioritise putting points on the board early with one eye on a congested mid-season run of games. Aston Villa and Liverpool are not what they would have had in mind to open the campaign, and could put pressure on tricky away trips to Elland Road and the Vitality Stadium.

随着纽卡斯尔重返欧冠联赛，埃迪·豪的球队将优先考虑尽早拿分，同时也要关注赛季中期密集的赛程。阿斯顿维拉和利物浦并非他们理想的赛季开局对手，这可能会给随后前往埃兰路球场和活力球场的艰难客场之旅带来压力。

赛程表: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Leeds, Wolves, Bournemouth

Total 'difficulty' value: 54

总‘难度’值: 54

并列第5. Brentford

Brentford arguably have more work to do than any other side before the start of the new season as they seek to replace head coach Thomas Frank and also hold on to their top talent, including Bryan Mbeumo. The new head coach opens with a testing trip to the City Ground, while there will be two early west London derbies at home to Chelsea and away to Fulham.

布伦特福德在新赛季开始前要做的工作可能比其他任何球队都多，因为他们需要寻找新主帅接替托马斯·弗兰克，同时还要留住包括布赖恩·姆贝莫在内的核心球员。新主帅的首秀将是一场考验——客场挑战城市球场（诺丁汉森林主场），此外还将迎来两场早期的西伦敦德比：主场对阵切尔西和客场挑战富勒姆。

赛程表: Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea, Fulham

Total 'difficulty' value: 54

总‘难度’值: 54

并列第7. Leeds United

Leeds are back in the Premier League after a two-season absence and will be hoping to make up for lost time. Priority for Daniel Farke's side will be survival this season, but they will back themselves to utilise home advantage in early games against Everton and Newcastle. With the momentum of last season's 100-point tally behind them, they are likely to be a tricky early opponent.

利兹联在缺席两个赛季后重返英超，希望能弥补失去的时间。丹尼尔·法尔克的球队本赛季的首要目标是保级，但他们相信自己能在早期对阵埃弗顿和纽卡斯尔的主场比赛中利用主场优势。凭借上赛季100个积分的势头，他们很可能在赛季初期成为一个难缠的对手。

赛程表: Everton, Arsenal, Newcastle, Fulham, Wolves

Total 'difficulty' value: 53

总‘难度’值: 53

并列第7. Everton

All Evertonian eyes were going to be on their first game in their new stadium, which will come at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the second matchday of the season. Three of their first five matches will be on the road, however, with an opening day trip to Elland Road and early Merseyside derby at Anfield representing a tricky start.

所有埃弗顿球迷的目光都将聚焦在他们新球场的首场比赛——赛季第二轮主场对阵布莱顿。然而，他们前五场比赛中有三场是客场作战，包括揭幕战造访埃兰路球场（利兹联主场）以及早期在安菲尔德进行的默西塞德德比，这代表着一个棘手的开局。

赛程表: Leeds, Brighton, Wolves, Aston Villa, Liverpool

Total 'difficulty' value: 53

总‘难度’值: 53

并列第7. Wolves

Having lost key players Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, Vitor Pereira's side have work to do in the transfer market ahead of their opening game at home to Manchester City. Last season saw the side go winless in their first 10 matches, so a fast start this time will be imperative at Molineux.

在失去了关键球员马特乌斯·库尼亚和拉扬·艾特-努里之后，维托尔·佩雷拉的球队在首轮主场迎战曼城之前，需要在转会市场上有所作为。上赛季球队在前10场比赛中未尝胜绩，因此这次在莫利纽球场取得一个快速开局至关重要。

赛程表: Manchester City, Bournemouth, Everton, Newcastle, Leeds

Total 'difficulty' value: 53

总‘难度’值: 53

并列第10. Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner's side did not win any of their first eight Premier League matches in 2024-25 and just one of their first 13, so there will be no panic if they do not fly out of the blocks this season. Their first three matches consistent of opponents who finished in last season's top seven, so there will be early tests of the feel-good factor at Selhurst Park once again.

奥利弗·格拉斯纳的球队在2024-25赛季的前八场英超比赛中一场未胜，前13场也只赢了一场，因此如果本赛季未能迅速进入状态，他们也不会恐慌。他们的前三场比赛对手都是上赛季排名前七的球队，因此塞尔赫斯特公园球场的良好氛围将再次面临早期考验。

赛程表: Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Sunderland, West Ham

Total 'difficulty' value: 51

总‘难度’值: 51

并列第10. Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton will be the first visitors to Everton's new stadium on matchday two, but three home games from the first five and a short trip to Bournemouth should give Fabian Hurzeler's side enough ammunition to make a fast start to the season.

布莱顿将在第二轮比赛成为埃弗顿新球场的首位客队，但前五场比赛中有三个主场，外加一次短途前往伯恩茅斯的客场之旅，这应该能为法比安·赫尔泽勒的球队提供足够的弹药来快速开启赛季。

赛程表: Fulham, Everton, Manchester City, Bournemouth, Tottenham

Total 'difficulty' value: 51

总‘难度’值: 51

12. Tottenham Hotspur

Having lost 22 league fixtures last season, the most for any team in the Premier League era without being relegated, Tottenham must hit the ground running under new head coach Thomas Frank. Outside of an early trip to Manchester City, where they won by four goals last season, they have opportunities for early points with two of their opening three at home, before testing trips to West Ham and Brighton.

上赛季输掉了22场联赛——这是英超时代未降级球队的最多失利纪录——热刺必须在新任主教练托马斯·弗兰克的带领下迅速进入状态。除了早期客场挑战曼城（上赛季他们曾在那里四球大胜），他们有机会在开局阶段拿分——前三场比赛中有两个主场，之后才是考验性的客场之旅，对阵西汉姆联和布莱顿。

赛程表: Burnley, Manchester City, Bournemouth, West Ham, Brighton

Total 'difficulty' value: 48

总‘难度’值: 48

并列第13. Fulham

Marco Silva's Fulham have been a model of stability in recent seasons, although outside hopes of European football tailed away in the closing weeks of 2024-25. Back-to-back early west London derbies against Chelsea and Brentford will be an early test of their ambitions this campaign.

马尔科·席尔瓦的富勒姆在最近几个赛季一直是稳定的典范，尽管在2024-25赛季的最后几周，他们进军欧洲赛场的渺茫希望逐渐破灭。赛季初期背靠背对阵切尔西和布伦特福德的西伦敦德比，将是对他们本赛季雄心壮志的早期检验。

赛程表: Brighton, Manchester United, Leeds, Chelsea, Brentford

Total 'difficulty' value: 47

总‘难度’值: 47

并列第13. Nottingham Forest

With European participation this season, Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be keen to make a fast start with their squad likely to be stretched with a heavy fixture load this term. It will be difficult to replicate their overperformance of 2024-25, with four London opponents to start.

本赛季将参加欧战，努诺·埃斯皮里托·桑托的球队渴望快速开局，因为繁重的赛程负荷可能会让他们的阵容捉襟见肘。开局就面对四个伦敦对手，想要复制2024-25赛季的超常发挥将会很困难。

赛程表: Brentford, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Arsenal, Burnley

Total 'difficulty' value: 47

总‘难度’值: 47

15. Manchester City

City won seven of their opening nine league matches last term before a sharp downturn in form over November and December derailed their season and killed off hopes of defending their title. Their value may underestimate the trickiness of this start, however, with Manchester United and Tottenham taking seven points from them last season, alongside an early game at Arsenal.

曼城上赛季开局九场联赛赢了七场，但随后在十一月和十二月状态急剧下滑，打乱了他们的赛季并扼杀了卫冕的希望。然而，他们的难度值可能低估了这个开局的棘手程度，因为上赛季曼联和热刺从他们身上拿走了七分，而且他们早期还有一场客战阿森纳的比赛。

赛程表: Wolves, Tottenham, Brighton, Manchester United, Arsenal

Total 'difficulty' value: 46

总‘难度’值: 46

16. Aston Villa

The disappointment of missing out on Champions League qualification will be lingering at Villa Park, but an early home match against Newcastle, who just pipped them to that elusive top-five spot, could set the tone for the campaign.

错失欧冠资格的失望情绪将在维拉公园球场萦绕，但早期主场迎战纽卡斯尔的比赛——正是后者以微弱优势抢走了他们梦寐以求的前五位置——可能为整个赛季定下基调。

赛程表: Newcastle, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton, Sunderland

Total 'difficulty' value: 44

总‘难度’值: 44

17. Chelsea

Chelsea's ambitions this season will be to close the gap to the league champions, having met their ambitions of Champions League qualification for this term. Four successive London derbies is a quirk to start their campaign before a trip to Old Trafford represents an early bellwether fixture.

切尔西本赛季的目标将是缩小与联赛冠军的差距，因为他们已经实现了本赛季获得欧冠资格的目标。连续四场伦敦德比是他们开启赛季的一个奇特之处，之后客场挑战老特拉福德将是一场重要的早期风向标比赛。

赛程表: Crystal Palace, West Ham, Fulham, Brentford, Manchester United

Total 'difficulty' value: 43

总‘难度’值: 43

18. West Ham United

After an underwhelming 2024-25, the tone for Graham Potter's side's season may be set with an opening trip to Sunderland and home game against Chelsea, with quickfire London derbies against Spurs and Palace at the London Stadium to follow.

在经历了令人失望的2024-25赛季后，格雷厄姆·波特的球队本赛季的基调可能会由揭幕战客场挑战桑德兰和主场迎战切尔西来奠定，随后将在伦敦体育场快速迎来对阵热刺和水晶宫的伦敦德比。

赛程表: Sunderland, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Crystal Palace

Total 'difficulty' value: 42

总‘难度’值: 42

19. Burnley

Survival is the sole objective for Scott Parker's side this season, with a crunch home fixture against Sunderland in the second week potentially setting the tone for the campaign.

保级是斯科特·帕克球队本赛季的唯一目标，第二周主场对阵桑德兰的关键比赛可能为整个赛季定下基调。

赛程表: Tottenham, Sunderland, Manchester United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest

Total 'difficulty' value: 41

总‘难度’值: 41

20. Sunderland

Promotion play-off winners Sunderland have already lost Tom Watson and Jobe Bellingham to Brighton & Hove Albion and Borussia Dortmund respectively, so will prioritising a number of transfer incomings. They statistically have the most favourable opening set of fixtures, with a home fixture against last season's sixth-place Aston Villa the highest rated game in their opening five.

附加赛升级成功的桑德兰已经失去了汤姆·沃森（加盟布莱顿）和乔布·贝林厄姆（加盟多特蒙德），因此将优先引进多名新援。从统计数据来看，他们拥有最有利的开局赛程，其中主场对阵上赛季第六名阿斯顿维拉的比赛是他们前五场中难度值最高的。

赛程表: West Ham, Burnley, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa

Total 'difficulty' value: 39

总‘难度’值: 39