Newcastle United's Opening Day Record Casts a Shadow Ahead of Premier League Opener
As the Premier League returns this week, highlighted by Burnley hosting champions Manchester City on Friday, both teams are eager to secure an opening-day victory to set the tone for a strong start and establish early momentum.
However, for Newcastle United, their opening day history brings concerns. Over the course of the Premier League era, their season's kickoff often culminates in defeats, outnumbering wins and draws. Out of 28 opening weekend matches, they have claimed nine victories, settled for seven draws, and experienced 12 losses.
This performance translates to an average of 1.21 points per game, ranking them with the fourth-weakest record in the league. The margin between their average and the lowest stands at a mere 0.21 points per game. The team aims to defy this historical trend as they face Aston Villa on Saturday.
In contrast, Manchester United stands as a standout performer, emerging at the top with 20 wins out of 30 opening-day fixtures in the Premier League. Their record includes four draws and six losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the previous year. This performance awards them an impressive points-per-game average of 2.13, the highest among all teams during the Premier League era.
While Manchester United has consistently participated in the Premier League since its inception, they have played one match fewer than other clubs due to the absence of a week one fixture in the 2020/21 season. This intriguing blend of historical records sets the stage for yet another exciting Premier League season.
Chelsea and Manchester United lead the pack, followed by Liverpool with a strong average of 2.03 points per game. Brentford and Nottingham Forest, though having played only eight games combined, share an average of 2.0 points each.
Among the teams that have participated in at least ten Premier League opening weekend matches, Arsenal secures the fourth spot with an average of 1.84 points per game. Manchester City follows closely in fifth place with 1.80 points, while Tottenham takes the sixth position with an average of 1.53 points.
On the contrary, Burnley holds the unfortunate distinction of possessing the poorest opening-day record among current Premier League teams. Out of their seven opening-day matches in the top flight, they have secured only two victories, drawing once and suffering four losses. This performance equates to an average of 1.00 points per game, the lowest among all active Premier League teams. Manager Vincent Kompany will be looking to avoid a repeat of history when facing City in the upcoming Friday's opener.
Following Burnley, Crystal Palace (1.07), Bournemouth (1.16), and Newcastle (1.16) complete the list of teams with lower opening-day averages. Luton Town, newly promoted, has yet to make its Premier League debut. The team was relegated from the old First Division after the 1991/92 season, with the Premier League commencing in the subsequent campaign.
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