On October 9 (CET), renowned analytics platform Opta published a ranking of Premier League clubs with the most challenging fixture schedules until the next international break, based on upcoming matches.

Premier League clubs with the most challenging five-match schedules

1. Liverpool (Opponents: Manchester City (A), Brentford (H), Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Arsenal (A), Crystal Palace (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 95.4

2. Nottingham Forest (Opponents: Crystal Palace (H), Arsenal (A), Ipswich Town (H), Brentford (H), Manchester City (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 94.4

3. Brighton & Hove Albion (Opponents: Sunderland (H), Crystal Palace (A), Liverpool (H), Manchester City (H), Brentford (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.8

4. Aston Villa (Opponents: Brentford (A), Newcastle United (H), Manchester City (A), Fulham (A), Manchester United (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.8

5. Leeds United (Opponents: Arsenal (H), Manchester United (A), Sunderland (H), Bournemouth (H), Tottenham Hotspur (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.6

6. Crystal Palace (Opponents: Nottingham Forest (A), Brighton & Hove Albion (H), Newcastle United (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H), Liverpool (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.2

7. Hull City (Opponents: Everton (A), Fulham (H), Brentford (A), Ipswich Town (A), Arsenal (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.1

8. Brentford (Opponents: Aston Villa (H), Liverpool (A), Hull City (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Brighton & Hove Albion (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.1

9. Everton (Opponents: Hull City (H), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (H), Coventry City (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.1

10. Manchester City (Opponents: Liverpool (H), Ipswich Town (A), Aston Villa (H), Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Nottingham Forest (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 93.1

11. Manchester United (Opponents: Tottenham Hotspur (A), Leeds United (H), Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 92.5

12. Arsenal (Opponents: Leeds United (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Everton (A), Liverpool (H), Hull City (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 92.4

13. Ipswich Town (Opponents: Fulham (A), Manchester City (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Hull City (H), Bournemouth (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 92.3

14. Sunderland (Opponents: Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Bournemouth (H), Leeds United (A), Coventry City (H), Chelsea (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 92.3

15. Chelsea (Opponents: Bournemouth (A), Everton (H), Tottenham Hotspur (A), Manchester United (A), Sunderland (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 92.2

16. Bournemouth (Opponents: Chelsea (H), Sunderland (A), Manchester United (H), Leeds United (A), Ipswich Town (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 92

17. Tottenham Hotspur (Opponents: Manchester United (H), Coventry City (A), Chelsea (H), Crystal Palace (A), Leeds United (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 91.9

18. Coventry City (Opponents: Newcastle United (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H), Fulham (A), Sunderland (A), Everton (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 91.5

19. Newcastle United (Opponents: Coventry City (H), Aston Villa (A), Crystal Palace (H), Everton (A), Fulham (H)) Difficulty coefficient: 91.2

20. Fulham (Opponents: Ipswich Town (H), Hull City (A), Coventry City (H), Aston Villa (H), Newcastle United (A)) Difficulty coefficient: 91.1

The Premier League returns this weekend following a three-week international break, much to the delight of supporters. However, Liverpool fans may not share the same enthusiasm.

The reason is that Arne Slot's side face an exceptionally demanding fixture list over the coming month. According to Opta, Liverpool's next five league matches before November's international break are the most challenging in the entire Premier League.

This respected sports data agency has assessed the fixture difficulty for every Premier League club over the next four weeks. Fulham has the easiest run, while a quick glance at Liverpool's upcoming opponents suggests they are about to embark on an arduous journey.

This demanding period begins this Sunday when they host Manchester City at Anfield in a highly anticipated clash. Following Manchester City's financial fair play violations, the long-standing rivalry between the two clubs is poised to intensify significantly.

However, despite City facing a hostile atmosphere and considerable pressure, Enzo Maresca's team currently boasts exceptional form and sits atop the Premier League table with an unbeaten record.

After facing City, Slot's side will encounter two of the division's in-form teams—Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion. Both currently occupy higher league positions than Liverpool, with Brighton recently defeating title favourites Arsenal and sitting third, while Brentford sits fourth. Both teams have made exceptional starts to the season.

This difficulty rating even exceeds that of second-placed Nottingham Forest.

Forest have had a mixed start to the campaign, impressing with a draw at Anfield and securing an away victory over Aston Villa, but subsequently suffering a home defeat to recently promoted Coventry City. Such a result before the three-week break is far from ideal for Oliver Glasner, and with the upcoming fixtures, matters could worsen before they improve. Over their next five matches, Forest will travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace, host Arsenal, visit both Ipswich Town and Brentford, and finally return home to meet Manchester City.

Meanwhile, following the intensity at Anfield and recovery from the hostile reception, Manchester City face a significantly less demanding schedule over the coming month.

In their first match since their disciplinary decision, Maresca's side will host Ipswich Town at the Etihad, followed by matches against Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Forest.

However, for their bitter rivals Manchester United, a difficult start—just five points from five matches this season—shows little sign of improving. On Saturday evening, United will host bottom-of-the-table Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, seeking their second win of the campaign. After this encounter, they travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United.

They then host Bournemouth at Old Trafford—Manchester United have not defeated them since 2023. This is followed by an away trip to Chelsea under Enzo Maresca. Their final fixture in this challenging stretch sees them host Aston Villa at home.

Elsewhere, after hosting Coventry City, Chelsea also travel to Everton alongside their matches against Manchester United and Sunderland, plus a derby with Tottenham Hotspur.

Reigning champions Arsenal's schedule is considered more difficult than Chelsea's but relatively easier than Liverpool's and the two Manchester clubs'.

This weekend they host Leeds United, looking to bounce back from their pre-break defeat at the Amex, before travelling to the City Ground to face Forest. Surrounding their blockbuster fixture at Anfield, they also play Everton and Hull City respectively.

Fulham have the easiest run with a difficulty coefficient of just 91.1, largely because their next three opponents—Hull City, Ipswich Town, and Coventry City—are all newly promoted sides.

After these matches, Mikel Arteta's side will conclude this stretch against Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Переведено ИИ.

Сайт AF теперь доступен! Читайте полные новости, комментарии, детали матчей и статистику на компьютере. Посетите: www.allfootballapp.com