Chelsea second
©TM/IMAGO
The long anticipated wait is almost over. This Friday the Premier League returns, as Manchester United take on Fulham at Old Trafford. Clubs have spent the summer working hard getting their squads back up to match fitness in pre-season, while their recruitment teams scramble to get new faces through the door. There are some tasty opening day fixtures, with newly promoted Ipswich taking on Liverpool on Saturday, and Enzo Maresca going up against his old friend Pep Guardiola, as Chelsea host Manchester City.
So with the world’s richest division making its long awaited return, which clubs historically are quickest out of the blocks? Here at Transfermarkt, we have calculated the clubs that have taken the most overall points on match-day one in the Premier League since the division’s re-format in the 1992/93 season.
Leading the way are 13-time Premier League champions Man United. Despite not being able to match the lofty heights they were once at in recent years, they have been pretty consistent on the opening day, taking 70 points from 32 games since 1992. Last season they began the Premier League campaign with a slightly fortuitous 1-0 win against Wolves. In second place with 67 points from their 32 opening matches come Chelsea – they drew their opener 2-2 vs Liverpool last term. In third are Reds themselves who have taken 64 points from 32 match-day one fixtures. Then in fourth come Arsenal with 60 points from their 32 opening games.
In fifth place are the first team who have not featured in all 32 Premier League seasons. Man City have taken 51 points from their 27 opening day fixtures in the English top-flight since 1992. Tottenham take sixth place having taken 50 points from 32 match-day one games. Then it’s Everton (the last of the teams to have featured in every season) with 39 points from 32 matches. In eighth are Newcastle with 37 points from 29 games. They are followed by West Ham with 35 points from 28 matches, and finally Aston Villa complete the top 10 with 35 points from 29 games.
Add comment