Manchester United have been handed the easiest start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, while Leeds United sit mid-table in the fixture difficulty rankings as the new campaign approaches.
Paul Gallagher and James Smailes Head of All Out Rugby League and Yorkshire sport at Reach plc
11:44, 19 Jun 2026
Leeds United players celebrate their goal scored by Dominic Calvert-Lewin
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Leeds United players celebrate their goal scored by Dominic Calvert-Lewin(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Manchester United have been handed the most favourable opening to the 2026/27 Premier League season, with the fixtures computer pairing them against two newly-promoted sides in their first two outings.
Michael Carrick's men could hit the ground running as they travel to face Hull City in their opener, before hosting Ipswich Town at Old Trafford in their second match.
Man United's third league fixture presents a stiffer challenge in the form of a trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to take on Everton, yet overall they boast comfortably the most straightforward opening three fixtures of any top-flight side, based on average finishing positions from last season.
Leeds United's start is ranked as the 10th best, putting them firmly in mid-table, a position which the ownership would surely love to finish in come the end of the campaign. Leeds start at Nottingham Forest and then host Brentford, before going away to Brighton.
Fellow Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City will also be afforded the opportunity to find their feet early on, with opening schedules that look, on paper at least, highly favourable.
Behind Man United, it is Liverpool who possess the second-most manageable start to the campaign, based on last season's final standings. The Reds open with Newcastle United away, before hosting Nottingham Forest and then travelling to Ipswich Town, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Manchester City are considered to have the third-easiest beginning, kicking off at home to Bournemouth, before heading to Crystal Palace and then welcoming promoted Coventry City to the Etihad.
However, both Manchester clubs will face a significant early-season examination on the fourth match day, when they lock horns in the first Manchester derby at Old Trafford on 12th September. Newly-promoted Ipswich Town face the most difficult start to the campaign.
The fixtures have handed the Tractor Boys a particularly demanding opening to the season as they prepare for their seventh term in the top flight come August.
Ipswich begin with a home fixture against Sunderland, before travelling to Old Trafford to take on United, then returning to Portman Road at the beginning of September to welcome Liverpool.
Each of their opening three opponents secured European football by finishing within the top seven positions in the Premier League last term.
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Here are the 'easiest' and 'toughest' starts to the season based on the average finishing position of the first 3 opponents in 2025/26:.
Manchester United: 19.7.
Liverpool: 16.7.
Manchester City: 14.
Sunderland: 14.
Brentford: 12.7.
Tottenham Hotspur: 12.3.
Nottingham Forest: 12.
Arsenal: 11.7.
Aston Villa: 11.
Leeds United: 11.
Fulham: 10.7.
Brighton and Hove Albion: 9.3.
Hull City: 9.3.
Newcastle United: 9.3.
Bournemouth: 9.
Coventry City: 9.
Crystal Palace: 8.7.
Everton: 8.
Chelsea: 6.7.
Ipswich Town: 5.
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