Premier League: How does your team perform on the opening day?

Andy Schooler
15 June 2022

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates his opening-day Premier League hat-trick against Leeds with Fred in August 2021

Planet Sport's Andy Schooler looks at which teams have the best win rate on the opening day of a Premier League season - and reveals which has the worst.

Football fans are supposed to love the opening day of the season - fresh hope, new opportunities etc.

But for supporters of some clubs, thoughts of matchday one fill them with dread and that will remain the case whoever they are paired with in Thursday's Premier League fixtures announcement.

I say clubs but really I'm talking about Southampton.

They've won just two of their 23 Premier League season-openers - a wretched win rate of 9%, one twice as bad as the next worst, Bournemouth's 20%.

Saints supporters have seen just one win in their last 15 opening-day games. That came back in 2013. What were you playing at, West Brom?

Most defeats

Eleven of the 23 have been lost (10 draws) and that at least means Southampton miss out on doubling up the lowest win rate with the highest loss ratio.

Instead that ignominy falls to West Ham, beaten in 14 of their 26 opening-round matches in Premier League history.

The Hammers have lost five of their last six, although they've been pretty unlucky in terms of fixtures of late - six of their last eight opening-day games have come against the so-called Big Six.

Somewhat strangely, West Ham are well inside the top half of the 'win rate' table. They've actually won 11 times on the opening weekend, or 42% of the time.

As you've probably worked out, the Hammers don't really do draws on day one - they haven't had such a result in their last 24 opening-day games in the top flight.

United strong starters

In terms of win rate, Manchester United have an enviable record.

They've won 20 of their 30 season-openers (67%) which is the best of any of the current members who have played at last six Premier League seasons.

The Red Devils have won six of their last seven and haven't drawn their opening fixture since being held 1-1 at Old Trafford by Newcastle in 2008.

Chelsea's record is almost as good (63% win rate) and if you focus in on more recent history it's actually better.

The Blues have won 16 of their last 20 opening-round matches (80%).

Forest off to a flier?

Such a win rate is the same as Nottingham Forest have managed across their five Premier League seasons, a fact which will surprise many given they've been relegated in three of those.

Liverpool's 60% win rate is also notable.

They've won their last four on the opening day and are unbeaten in their last nine. Their last defeat came against West Brom in 2012, a season which saw them take just two points from their first five games and win just two of their first 11 under Brendan Rodgers.

The full win-rate table for the opening games of a Premier League season can be found below:

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
Brentford	1	0	0	100%
Nottingham Forest	4	0	1	80%
Manchester United	20	4	6	67%
Chelsea	19	6	5	63%
Liverpool	18	8	4	60%
Arsenal	16	6	8	53%
Manchester City	13	6	6	52%
West Ham	11	1	14	42%
Tottenham	12	7	11	40%
Brighton	2	0	3	40%
Wolves	3	2	3	38%
Aston Villa	10	8	9	37%
Leeds	5	7	2	36%
Fulham	5	4	6	33%
Crystal Palace	4	3	6	31%
Everton	9	12	9	30%
Newcastle	8	7	12	30%
Leicester	4	6	6	25%
Bournemouth	1	1	3	20%
Southampton	2	10	11	9%