Football
Which Team Has the Best Opening Round Record in Premier League History?
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Using a points-per-match metric, we have rewound the clocks to find out which team has the best opening round record in Premier League history.
The Premier League returns for the 2024/25 season at Old Trafford, as Manchester United look to extend their already-league leading opening round record.
Below Sportscasting have put together an all-time league table solely based on results in the opening round, and it is the usual suspects near the summit.
Which Team Has the Best Opening Round Record in Premier League History?
Although several teams have only featured in a solitary Premier League season, the fairest comparison for the opening round appears to be by points-per-match.
Of course, that means Blackpool reign supreme having claimed victory in their one and only first round match, but beyond that it is clear to see which teams typically start the season as they mean to go on.
Club |
P |
W |
D |
L |
Points-per-Match |
| Blackpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Manchester United** | 31 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 2.16 |
| Chelsea | 32 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 2.09 |
| Liverpool | 32 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 2.00 |
| Arsenal | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 1.87 |
| Nottingham Forest | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1.71 |
| Brentford | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.66 |
| Manchester City** | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1.80 |
| Hull | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1.80 |
| Wimbledon | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1.75 |
| Brighton | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1.71 |
| Leeds | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1.66 |
| Reading | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.67 |
| Sheffield Utd | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.60 |
| Swansea | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1.57 |
| Bolton | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1.54 |
| Tottenham* | 31 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 1.51 |
| Bradford | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.50 |
| Huddersfield | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.50 |
| Blackburn | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 1.44 |
| Coventry | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1.44 |
| Fulham | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1.35 |
| Newcastle | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 1.27 |
| Aston Villa** | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 1.25 |
| West Ham | 28 | 11 | 2 | 15 | 1.25 |
| Everton* | 31 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 1.25 |
| Crystal Palace | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 1.2 |
| Bournemouth | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.14 |
| Derby | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1.14 |
| Portsmouth | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.14 |
| Sunderland | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1.13 |
| Watford | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1.12 |
| Leicester | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 1.11 |
| Wolves | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1.1 |
| West Brom | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0.92 |
| Charlton | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.88 |
| Middlesbrough | 15 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0.87 |
| Burnley** | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.87 |
| Birmingham | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0.86 |
| Ipswich | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.80 |
| Southampton | 24 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 0.66 |
| Norwich | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0.60 |
| Stoke | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0.60 |
| Sheffield Wed | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0.50 |
| Wigan | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0.50 |
| Oldham | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.50 |
| QPR | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.14 |
| Cardiff | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Swindon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Barnsley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Luton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
*Tottenham vs Everton was postponed in 2011/12.
**Aston Villa, Burnley, Manchester City and Manchester Utd didn’t feature in an opening round fixture in 2020/21.
Manchester United Win the Most on the Opening Day
As the table reflects, Manchester United fans should feel confident heading into the 2024/25 season opener against Fulham.
Their slender victory over Wolves last season was their 21st win out of a possible 31 opening round games, of which they have only lost six. This gives them an overall points-per-match of 2.16, putting them marginally ahead of Chelsea.
The Blues and new manager Enzo Maresca face a monumental task in their first game, as they welcome champions Manchester City to Stamford Bridge; a side they have failed to beat in nine consecutive games in all competitions.
Nevertheless, they have collected 0.29 more points than City across their historical first round matches – perhaps a sign of things to come?
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s relatively dismal record in comparison to their top six rivals is cause for concern. Their 2-2 draw with Brentford to kick-off last season means they have won just over 40% of their total first round games.