{"id":507734,"date":"2026-03-06T18:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T18:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/507734\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T18:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T18:34:09","slug":"premier-league-fixture-difficulty-who-has-the-toughest-run-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/507734\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier League Fixture Difficulty: Who Has the Toughest Run-In?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With just nine games remaining of the 2025-26 Premier League<\/a> season (eight for Arsenal and Wolves), we\u2019ve looked at which teams have the hardest and easiest run-ins.<\/p>\n

With a few more twists and turns on Matchday 29 of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, things are finely poised in England\u2019s top flight.<\/p>\n

Arsenal have a seven-point lead at the top, although they\u2019ve played a game more than closest challengers Manchester City, while Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool battle it out for the remaining two (or possibly three) UEFA Champions League places.<\/p>\n

At the other end, Wolves and Burnley look very likely to be playing in the Championship next season, but the fight to avoid the last relegation spot looks set to be tense and may even go down to the wire.<\/p>\n

Tottenham\u2019s 3-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace on Thursday means there are four teams within three points of each other desperately trying to steer clear of the dreaded drop.<\/p>\n

As Wolves proved with their win over defending champions Liverpool on Tuesday, anyone can beat anyone in the Premier League. Nonetheless, some teams will have \u2018easier\u2019 or \u2018tougher\u2019 games than others between now and the end of the season.<\/p>\n

Using the Opta Power Rankings<\/a>, we can work out which sides have more or less intimidating run-ins than their rivals.<\/p>\n

\"Premier<\/p>\n

Arsenal<\/a> are well-placed to win their first Premier League title since 2003-04 but know they still have work to do.<\/p>\n

Gunners fans may therefore take solace in the fact only four teams, in theory, have an easier run-in. Though there\u2019s potentially tricky games against Everton and Bournemouth before their all-important trip to Man City, Arsenal\u2019s last five games include facing West Ham and Burnley, both currently in the relegation zone.<\/p>\n

Man City<\/a> have a harder-looking set of fixtures, with only five teams having it tougher, according to the Opta Power Rankings. Pep Guardiola\u2019s men still have to face Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Brentford and Aston Villa, though they are also set to go up against West Ham and Burnley.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, two teams jointly have the hardest run-in, so say the Opta Power Rankings.<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace<\/a> likely secured their safety with victory at Spurs, which took them 10 points clear of the drop zone, and that might have been just as well. Oliver Glasner\u2019s final games in charge at Selhurst Park before his contract expires include facing Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United, while they host Arsenal on the final day of the season.<\/p>\n

Everton<\/a> have an equally tough final nine, which could impact their quest for European football. David Moyes\u2019 side have been in good form recently but will need to navigate games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool in their next four, while also facing Man City after that.<\/p>\n

West Ham<\/a> have also hit a nice run of form as they look to get out of the relegation zone, but life is about to get tougher for them. The Hammers have the third-hardest run-in according to the average rating of their opponents, with their next two games against Man City and Aston Villa. Four of their last five matches see them meet Everton, Brentford, Arsenal and Newcastle.<\/p>\n

Each of their relegation rivals have fixtures that are on the kinder side of the average. Leeds United<\/a> have the second-easiest run-in, with Manchester United their only remaining top-six opponents. Daniel Farke\u2019s men also face Wolves, Burnley and West Ham, the three teams currently in the relegation zone.<\/p>\n

Only five teams have a kinder run of fixtures than Tottenham<\/a>, but given they\u2019re without a win in 11 league games for the first time since October 1975, perhaps that doesn\u2019t matter all that much. Igor Tudor\u2019s men travel to Liverpool next, before hosting Nottingham Forest in a massive game. They also have rock-bottom Wolves to play, though three of their last four are tricky encounters with Aston Villa, Chelsea and Everton.<\/p>\n

Nottingham Forest<\/a> have a near-identical run difficulty-wise, including a home game with Burnley, though their last four are also not ideal, including games with Chelsea, Newcastle and Man Utd.<\/p>\n

Wolves<\/a> have the \u2018easiest\u2019 run-in, though it\u2019s not likely to matter given they\u2019re still 15 points from safety despite recording back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Liverpool.<\/p>\n

As for the teams vying for Champions League spots, despite a poor recent run of form, it is Aston Villa<\/a> who have the simplest-looking end to their season. Unai Emery\u2019s side face Man Utd next, but after that they have a run of six opponents that include West Ham, Forest, Spurs and Burnley. They will hope to be well-placed after that, though, as their last two games are against Liverpool and Man City.<\/p>\n

\n Battle for Champions League Qualification\n <\/p>\n

Man Utd<\/a>\u2019s fixtures are middling in terms of difficulty, with that aforementioned game against Villa at Old Trafford potentially a significant one. They have a run of three games against Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool, but also face Leeds, Sunderland and Forest.<\/p>\n

Only six teams have a tougher run-in than Liverpool<\/a>, but given their loss at Wolves, strength of opposition may not make much difference to the inconsistent Reds. The only relegation-threatened team Liverpool still need to face are Spurs, whom they host on Matchday 30. Aside from that and a trip to rivals Everton, the main focus is on a potentially fascinating final four games against each of their top-four\/top-five rivals, Man Utd, Chelsea, Villa and Brentford.<\/p>\n

Chelsea<\/a> have one of the tougher sets of fixtures, so their 4-1 win at Villa earlier this week came at just the right time. Liam Rosenior\u2019s men have a tough next four against Newcastle, Everton, Man City and Man Utd, though three of those games are at home, while they also have to face Liverpool at Anfield.<\/p>\n

\"Premier<\/a><\/p>\n

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