How Leeds United's opening run compares across the Premier League | OneFootball

Leeds United open their second Premier League campaign at Nottingham Forest on 22 August, then host Brentford the following weekend. Daniel Farke’s side play three of their first five at Elland Road. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Opta have assessed the difficulty of those early fixtures using their power rankings.

Opta rate teams from zero to 100, with reigning champions Arsenal at 100. Hull City are the lowest-rated Premier League side at 82.2. The model produces an average opponent rating across each club’s first five matches.

Manchester United top the difficulty standings, facing Hull away, Ipswich at home, Everton away, Man City at home and Fulham away, with an average opponent rating of 89.3. Newcastle United are next, with Liverpool at home, Tottenham away, Bournemouth at home, Leeds away and Hull at home, averaging 89.9. Liverpool follow, travelling to Newcastle, hosting Nottingham Forest, going to Ipswich, hosting Fulham then visiting Bournemouth, at 90.7.

Brentford are fourth, hosting Tottenham, visiting Leeds, then Sunderland at home, Bournemouth away and Chelsea at home, averaging 90.8. Crystal Palace rank fifth with Everton away, Man City at home, Fulham away, Ipswich at home and Leeds away, also 90.8. Everton are sixth, facing Crystal Palace at home, Bournemouth away, Man Utd at home, Tottenham away and Ipswich at home, again 90.8.

Leeds’ placement sits within a division-wide table of opening-five difficulty, benchmarked by those power ratings.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk