You’ve got to feel for Southampton.
Without a win in the Premier League in seven matches. On the receiving end of a humiliating 9-0 defeat to Leicester City. Nineteenth in the table. Sheesh.
Ralph Hasenhuttl is under serious pressure to turn things around after winning just two out of 12 games.
But there’s reason for Saints fans to slightly excuse their poor form: their strength of schedule.
The team at footylabs work out the strength of schedule for each Premier League team based on their current position and the standing of their opponent.
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And through gameweek 12, Southampton have had the toughest set of fixtures.
The south coast club have already faced Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Leicester City and Manchester City this season.
More easier games are to come. Southampton have the fifth easiest schedule in the next five matches and the seventh easiest for the remainder of the season.
On the flip side are Everton. The Toffees have disappointed in 2019/20, winning just four games, and are 15th in the table.
That’s despite having the most simple schedule so far - and the second-most difficult for the rest of the season.
After the international break, Everton’s fixture list reads: Norwich City (H), Leicester City (A), Liverpool (A), Chelsea (H), Manchester United (A), Arsenal (H).
Ouch.
Check out the strength of schedule for all 20 teams.
1st = hardest, 20th = easiest
1. Liverpool
- Season so far: 9th
- Next 5 matches: 19th
- Season remaining: 18th
2. Leicester City
- Season so far: 11th
- Next 5 matches: 20th
- Season remaining: 16th
3. Chelsea
- Season so far: 18th
- Next 5 matches: 11th
- Season remaining: 9th
4. Man City
- Season so far: 19th
- Next 5 matches: 3rd
- Season remaining: 13th
5. Sheffield United
- Season so far: 3rd
- Next 5 matches: 15th
- Season remaining: 10th
6. Arsenal
- Season so far: 15th
- Next 5 matches: 18th
- Season remaining: 17th
7. Man United
- Season so far: 12th
- Next 5 matches: 10th
- Season remaining: 19th
8. Wolves
- Season so far: 7th
- Next 5 matches: 14th
- Season remaining: 12th
9. Bournemouth
- Season so far: 16th
- Next 5 matches: 6th
- Season remaining: 4th
10. Burnley
- Season so far: 14th
- Next 5 matches: 9th
- Season remaining: 6th
11. Brighton
- Season so far: 13th
- Next 5 matches: 5th
- Season remaining: 3rd
12. Crystal Palace
- Season so far: 6th
- Next 5 matches: 17th
- Season remaining: 11th
13. Newcastle
- Season so far: 2nd
- Next 5 matches: 13th
- Season remaining: 15th
14. Tottenham
- Season so far: 8th
- Next 5 matches: 12th
- Season remaining: 20th
15. Everton
- Season so far: 20th
- Next 5 matches: 1st
- Season remaining: 2nd
16. West Ham
- Season so far: 17th
- Next 5 matches: 2nd
- Season remaining: 1st
17. Aston Villa
- Season so far: 10th
- Next 5 matches: 7th
- Season remaining: 5th
18. Watford
- Season so far: 4th
- Next 5 matches: 4th
- Season remaining: 7th
19. Southampton
- Season so far: 1st
- Next 5 matches: 16th
- Season remaining:14th
20. Norwich City
- Season so far: 5th
- Next 5 matches: 8th
- Season remaining: 8th
There’s further reason for Liverpool fans to be optimistic that this will be their season, then.
They have an eight-point advantage at the top of the table and have the third-easiest schedule the rest of the way.
At least one half of Merseyside will be happy.