MX23RW : Friday, December 13 21:37:22| >> :60:2656:2656:

Liverpool, Manchester City handed kind starts to 2019-20 Premier League season

Liverpool, Man City handed kind starts to 2019-20 Premier League season
© Reuters
Manchester City and Liverpool have impressive opening day records.

The new season's Premier League fixtures point to last season's title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool continuing their strong opening-day records.

City have started their season with a win for the last eight years in succession while the Reds have won five of their last six.

And with West Ham and Norwich respectively awaiting them, there appears little resistance this time around.

Premier League opening day: how clubs have fared
(PA Graphic)

The Hammers have lost on day one for the last three seasons, including back-to-back 4-0 defeats at Manchester United and Liverpool, while City have won 4-0, 4-1 and 4-0 away to the Hammers in the last three seasons.

Sergio Aguero has the most opening-day goals in the Premier League among the competition's active players, with six. He has not netted in any of those three wins at the London Stadium but did score there in January 2017's 5-0 FA Cup win.

West Ham's run of poor starts is mitigated by their opponents – after Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, United and Liverpool, the visit of City sees them complete the full set of "big six" opponents in successive seasons.

The only blemish on Liverpool's recent record is the stoppage-time equaliser they conceded to Watford in their 2017 opener, and they face a Canaries side with only two wins on opening day in the last 20 years.

Manchester United's Paul Pogba and Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain embrace
Manchester United and Chelsea meet on the opening weekend (Nigel French/PA)

The opening weekend's marquee fixture sees Manchester United host Chelsea on Sunday, August 11, with both teams enjoying strong records.

United have won their last four opening-day fixtures and eight out of 10, while Chelsea have only lost once on opening day in the last 20 years – although that came the season before last against Burnley.

Watford have the longest unbeaten run among current top-flight clubs at 12 games, though eight of those came as a Championship club and the run is evenly split between draws and wins.

Last season's 2-0 win over Brighton was their first on opening day since returning to the top flight and the Hornets have the same fixture this time around.

Roberto Pereyra, right, scores the first of his two goals against Brighton in last season's opener
Roberto Pereyra, right, scores the first of his two goals against Brighton in last season's opener (Nigel French/PA)

Arsenal have lost three of their last four opening fixtures but face a Newcastle side who are winless in six, with the Magpies' only point coming courtesy of 2015's 2-2 draw with Southampton.

Tottenham will look to build on back-to-back opening wins when they face promoted Aston Villa, who have only one defeat in their last six curtain-raisers. Harry Kane broke his August duck last season but has still never scored in the first game.

Southampton have started with a draw four years in a row, against Newcastle, Watford, Swansea and Burnley, and the Clarets have another chance to end that run this year.

Everton are unbeaten in seven, though with only two wins, and face a Crystal Palace side who have begun with a defeat in six of their last eight campaigns.

Wolves, unbeaten in six opening games, face a Leicester side who have lost three in a row while Bournemouth, with two wins in their last five openers, host Sheffield United who have won only one out of five.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Tom White and Pete Fabianski, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '81ca93c3-c26d-4c41-889e-821b5940e5f5');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Top two can continue to make the right early impression'});

ID:361892: cacheID:361892:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8827:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ed Woodward watches on during the Premier League game between Huddersfield Town and Manchester United on May 5, 2019
Read Next:
Ed Woodward 'to remain in charge of Man Utd transfers'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!