Every Premier League club has been ranked by how difficult their first five fixtures of the 2026/27 campaign are based on the stats, and it would appear Liverpool’s life under Andoni Iraola could be off to a flyer. Of course, it’s always difficult to predict how a team’s season will unfold, especially before a ball has even been kicked.

A club’s performances from the previous campaign, the quality of its squad and manager, and how kindly the fixture list falls can all offer clues. But the truth is, a week is a long time in football, let alone an entire summer. Transfer windows can change the landscape so dramatically that nobody can be completely sure how teams will fare when the new term gets underway.

Will Arsenal retain their title and continue laying the foundations of a dynasty under Mikel Arteta? What does life after Pep Guardiola look like for Manchester City? Or can a refreshed Tottenham side rise from the ashes and hit the ground running?

They are all fair questions to ponder as domestic football takes a back seat to the 2026 World Cup, with every club knowing that a positive start could set the tone for the season ahead, and Opta have put in the hard yards to work out which clubs have it easiest at the start based on opponents’ average rating.

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REUTERS/Peter Powell

Only two clubs have an easier start to the season than Liverpool, whose opponents have an average rating of 90.3/100. As fate would have it, the Reds once again begin their campaign away at Newcastle – the scene of last season’s dramatic 4-3 victory, when Rio Ngumoha struck a late winner. They then face Nottingham Forest and Fulham at Anfield, with a trip to Fulham sandwiched in between, before Iraola returns to Bournemouth for the first time since his departure last season in gameweek five.

Newcastle (89.9) have a slightly easier schedule on paper, helped in no small part by a home fixture against playoff winners Hull City in gameweek five. However, Manchester United (89.3) boast the most favourable opening run, with the Red Devils kicking off the season with back-to-back matches against newly promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town. The viral fan who vowed not to cut his hair until United win five matches in a row will be hoping a trip to the barbers is finally on the cards after a matchweek-three visit to Everton, before their city rivals make the short journey to Old Trafford a week later.

Rounding out this section are Brentford and Crystal Palace. Both clubs head into the campaign on the back of hugely successful seasons. Keith Andrews’ side mounted an unlikely push for Europa Conference League qualification, only to be pipped by Brighton on goal difference, while the Eagles won that very competition in Oliver Glasner’s final match in charge.

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As champions, Arsenal have the privilege of kicking off the new season at home to last season’s Championship winners, Coventry City, on Friday night. Trips to Chelsea and Sunderland that follow are far from straightforward, but the Gunners have already shown they possess the mentality to overcome whatever is thrown their way. Manchester City’s schedule has been given the same difficulty rating of 90.9, which is just 0.1 less favourable than Everton’s.

Nottingham Forest’s opponent rating of 91.1 has been driven up by away trips to both Liverpool and Aston Villa. As a result, Vitor Pereira will be desperate to bank points from their other three fixtures – Leeds United, Tottenham, and Coventry City at the City Ground – to avoid unwanted pressure from owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Greek businessman proved last season that he is not afraid to pull the trigger, cycling through four different head coaches in a managerial merry-go-round.

Aston Villa come in with the 11th-most difficult opening run of fixtures. A 176-mile trip to the south coast to face Brighton is no easy way to start the campaign, and things hardly get any easier with Arsenal visiting Villa Park in their second match.

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Chelsea, under Xabi Alonso’s guidance, face three away London derbies in their opening five fixtures. There is some comfort in the fact they will not have to travel far, while they have lost just three of their last 14 matches in the capital. However, Opta believes Arsenal, Fulham, and Brentford will provide a stern examination for the Spaniard as he looks to get his tenure off to a strong start.

Leeds United and Ipswich Town come next, with both clubs handed an opponent difficulty rating of 91.7. Fulham, meanwhile, find themselves ranked seventh after being dealt fixtures against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United in their first five outings. Just ahead of them are Hull City, whose only real breathing space comes in the form of a trip to fellow newcomers Coventry City in their third match of the campaign.

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Tottenham have been among the busiest clubs in the transfer market so far, and they will be hoping their new-look squad can hit the ground running despite an average opponent rating of 92.2. Brighton’s rating is 0.4 higher, with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Aston Villa all on the agenda in what promises to be a tricky start to a campaign that also includes the added challenge of juggling European football.

Coventry City, meanwhile, are bracing themselves for a baptism of fire in their first season back in the top flight since relegation from the Premier League in 2000/01. Trips to Arsenal and Man City – last season’s top two – make for a daunting introduction, and it is remarkable that their opening five fixtures are still not rated as difficult as those of two other clubs.

Second in the rankings are Sunderland, while the club handed the toughest start on paper is Bournemouth under new manager Marco Rose. Away trips to Man City and Newcastle are certainly not to be taken lightly, while home meetings with Everton and Liverpool mean a clash with Brentford stands out as their most favourable fixture. Even then, Andrews’ side have built a reputation for punching above their weight, meaning there is unlikely to be any room for error as Bournemouth look to avoid being thrown in at the deep end early on.

Liverpool are set to make a £100 million offer to sign a new forward during the summer transfer window.

It appears that the Merseyside club are looking to splash the cash once again, just as they did last summer.

Liverpool recently confirmed the appointment of Andoni Iraola, and the board will be looking to give him the right tools to implement his style and achieve things at the club.

The Reds have already confirmed the signing of Victor Munoz after they hijacked a deal by Newcastle to bring him in from Osasuna.

Liverpool do need to be active in the current window in order to replace Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, who have all left the club on free transfers.

Liverpool Readying Monster Offer

via Reuters

According to a report from Dave Ockop, Liverpool are expected to make another bid to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande in the summer transfer window.

The Reds recently saw an offer in the region of £87 million rejected by Leipzig, but talks have continued over a possible deal.

The report claims that Liverpool are ready to submit an offer in the region of £100m, which would be closer to the Bundesliga side’s valuation.

Diomande has previously claimed that he wants to play for Liverpool one day. It should be a straightforward deal for them to get over the line if they can agree a fee with Leipzig.

Diomande One of the Best Young Talents in Europe

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Diomande, described as unstoppable by journalist Bence Bocsak, is undoubtedly one of the highest-rated talents in Europe at the moment.

The Ivory Coast winger is currently starring at the World Cup, and he put his name up in lights in their opening game of the tournament.

Clubs like Liverpool were already well aware of Diomande’s talents before the tournament started, and they have been pushing to sign him over the last few months.

Liverpool will want to get a deal over the line quickly before other clubs enter the race, especially if he enjoys a phenomenal World Cup, as many would expect him to.

It was a historic outing in the World Cup for Canada against Qatar, as the tournament hosts picked up their first win of the summer, and their first-ever in the entire history of the FIFA compettion. Not only that, but they did so in emphatic fashion, winning 6-0.

Jesse Marsch watched on delighted as Jonathan David scored a hat-trick, while Cyle Larin, Nathan Saliba and Mohamed Manai also added to the scoring. There were two red cards to Qatari players Homam Al Amin and Assim Omer Madibo, with the latter sent off for his horror foul on Ismael Kone.

If that wasn’t enough drama, Canada manager Marsch then clashed with Qatar boss Julen Lopetegui at full-time, with the former seen nodding his head during a conversation, before suddenly flinging his arms in the air and storming off. It’s claimed Lopetegui was unhappy with Marsch’s tactics against his nine-man team.

Marsch Slammed Over ‘Ridiculous​​​​​​’ Behaviour as Canada Manager

Throughout the game and even when speaking to the press after the win, Marsch was very animated. He was even seen holding six fingers in the air to the Vancouver crowd to signal the 6-0 win. These antics didn’t go down well with everyone, though.

Over in Ireland, Alan Cawley was covering the game for RTE, and he took issue with the Canada boss, calling for more ‘class’ on the touchline:

Cawley’s co-host then pointed out that Marsch was just trying to get more Canadian fans ‘onside’, with many probably new to the sport. Cawley, however, hit back:

“He doesn’t need to try and get them onside because they’re hosting, they [the fans] are already there, they’re involved. He was doing a rallying call in every press conference; it was the same at Leeds [United], it’s the same everywhere.

On the former Leeds United manager, Cawley concluded: “In fairness, I praised him on one hand, but just have a bit of decorum, a bit of class.”

Watch the dull clip below:

World Cup Fans Baffled By Cawley’s Criticism of Marsch

Kevin Sousa via Reuters

Canada fans online were quick to defend their national team manager, explaining how it was only natural that Marsch should be delighted with the win, having seen his side pick up a victory for the first time ever at a World Cup. One explained:

Another said: “Mate it’s our first win in a World Cup. It’s a huge moment for our national team. We’re all really excited. Have a bit of fun with it will ya.”

One more added: “Boy this guy’s completely lost it. Clearly doesn’t like Marsch from Leeds & uses that to paint his own argument. Let us celebrate. It’s not JUST that we beat Qatar, it’s our first EVER World Cup victory.”

A fourth wrore: “Unbelievable commentary. How is this guy employed to give takes with the emotional regulation of a toddler that just dropped their ice cream. Humiliating.”

Even neutrals were baffled by the criticism, with one saying: “More embarrassing punditry from the mighty RTE again. You now can’t celebrate your first World cup win while its at home because of who you played. And they got players sent off? As if that’s Canada’s fault. Embarrassing amateur stuff all competition so far well done all involved.”

While an Irish fan noted: “If we beat someone in the World Cup by six goals, there’d be a bank holiday.” Someone else summed up the feeling online: “Really strange take on Jesse Marsch. God forbid the manager shows a bit of emotion when his team win 6-0 at a home World Cup and one of their best players has their leg broken in the same game.”