Premier League 2024-25: Who has the hardest and easiest starts to the new season?

Each side will play the others twice - at home and away - but momentum swings, sprints up the table and slumps down the standings can all play a part in how a campaign pans out.

No doubt everyone will be seeking a Noah Lyles-like charge out of the blocks, so - split in half by the September international break - Sports Mole takes a look at the first six matchdays and decides which teams have the toughest and simplest starts on paper.

WHICH CLUBS FACE THE TOUGHEST TESTS?

Wolverhampton Wanderers

First six fixtures: Arsenal (a), Chelsea (h), Nottingham Forest (a), Newcastle United (h), Aston Villa (a), Liverpool (h)

Having surprised many in 2023-24 - presumably including former boss Julen Lopetegui, who walked out on the eve of the season - Wolves certainly have their work cut out to keep pace with their fellow contenders for mid-table security.

Gary O'Neil's side finished 14th without ever being seriously troubled by relegation, but he has been handed a tough start to his second year in charge at Molineux, facing five of last term's final top seven before October.

Set to meet runners-up Arsenal on the opening day, Wolves then welcome Chelsea and Newcastle to the West Midlands either side of a trip to Nottingham - one which they must surely target all three points from, against former manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Visiting Villa Park and then hosting Liverpool could leave them in trouble after six rounds of action - and glancing a little further ahead, champions Manchester City await on matchday eight.

Arsenal

First six fixtures: Wolverhampton Wanderers (h), Aston Villa (a), Brighton & Hove Albion (h), Tottenham Hotspur (a), Manchester City (a), Leicester City (h)

Finishing second again last term saw Arsenal established as the outstanding challengers to Man City's Pep-inspired dominance, as other pretenders fell away long before the final hurdle.

Mikel Arteta's men are now intent on taking the title back to North London, but a tricky start will immediately put them to the test, with back-to-back away games at arch-rivals Tottenham and then City coming straight after the international break.

Indeed, the Gunners meet three of last season's top five during their first six matches, so a sub-par start could prove fatal.

More positively, though, Arsenal will also welcome Wolves and Brighton to the Emirates, before finishing off their first half-dozen fixtures against newly promoted Leicester City.

Brentford

First six fixtures: Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (a), Southampton (h), Manchester City (a), Tottenham Hotspur (a), West Ham United (h)

After coming worryingly close to relegation last season, Brentford will want to get off on the right foot for 2024-25 - but the fixture list may not help Thomas Frank's side in that regard.

The Bees must visit Liverpool, Man City and Spurs by mid-September - three teams that finished inside the Premier League's top five in May.

Even their opener against London rivals Crystal Palace looks particularly testing in the context of how the Eagles stylishly closed out last season.

Therefore, a home game versus Southampton - which takes place just before international football intervenes - has the hallmarks of an early six-pointer.

West Ham United

First six fixtures: Aston Villa (h), Crystal Palace (a), Manchester City (h), Fulham (a), Chelsea (h), Brentford (a)

New boss Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten have been busy splashing the cash this summer, and West Ham's rejuvenated squad will have their collective mettle tested very early this season.

Their first three home fixtures come against teams that have qualified for UEFA competitions, and former manager David Moyes will surely watch from afar with interest to see how his old club get on.

Three of last term's top six feature among the opening half-dozen matches: not only irrepressible Man City, but any pretensions of challenging for Europe will also be put under the microscope by Aston Villa and Chelsea.

However, the Hammers will have home advantage against all three, which could help Lopetegui's quest to win over the capital club's supporters.

WHO HAS THE SIMPLEST START?

Liverpool

First six fixtures: Ipswich Town (a), Brentford (h), Manchester United (a), Nottingham Forest (h), Bournemouth (h), Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

As Arne Slot settles in to the Anfield hotseat vacated by Liverpool's era-defining former boss Jurgen Klopp, his new club could well have the easiest start to the new Premier League season.

By contrast with Arsenal's awkward schedule from August until October, the Reds face five fixtures against teams that either finished in the bottom half of the table last season or have freshly arrived from the Championship.

Starting at Ipswich on the opening weekend will see Slot's side meet an ambitious club riding the crest of a wave, but a subsequent home game against Brentford should hold few fears.

Liverpool have failed to find a win on their last three trips to Old Trafford - including a momentum-killing FA Cup loss last season - but after the international break, they will be meet Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Wolves.

Southampton

First six fixtures: Newcastle United (a), Nottingham Forest (h), Brentford (a), Manchester United (h), Ipswich Town (h), Bournemouth (a)

Returning to the Premier League at the first attempt, via a Wembley win over Leeds United in the Championship playoff final, Southampton are back in the big time after just one year away.

As a reward for negotiating two extra contests in order to reach the top flight, they have been handed a relatively mild opening fixture list - certainly more favourable than the two other promoted clubs.

Russell Martin's men do face a tricky trip to Newcastle on the opening weekend - and they must also host Manchester United - but games against Ipswich plus the 16th and 17th-placed finishers in last term's Premier League could help them avoid getting stuck to the foot of the standings.

In fact, the first time Saints go toe to toe with any of last season's top six will come on matchday seven, when they meet up with Arsenal in London.