The 2022/23 Premier League fixture list was released earlier this week - and some clubs will be looking forward to the early weeks of the season more than others.
All 20 managers in the English top-flight will be keen for their team to start the new campaign well. Privately, though, some will already have resigned themselves to the fact that their players are likely to have it tough in the opening exchanges.
With the full Premier League schedule now in the public domain, the team over at The Athletic have crunched the numbers and determined which sides have the most daunting start to the new season over their first five matches.
They explain their formula as follows:
"Based on last season’s league tables, every team from 1 to 17 in the Premier League has been given a score from 20 to 4 in reverse order. Then the three newly-promoted sides have been ranked from 3 to 1.
"Add in a half point for an away game and average out those opening months and we’ve come up with a semi-scientific ranking of the toughest August fixture lists."
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 22: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City celebrates with the Premier League trophy after their side finished the season as Premier League champions during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 22, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
In truth, some of these assignments look so daunting that science really isn't needed to let you that the clubs concerned are in for a rough ride.
Let's now take a look at the countdown in full.
Which teams have the toughest start to the 2023 Premier League season?
20. Bournemouth - Difficulty ranking of first five games: 74
Aston Villa (H), Manchester City (A), Arsenal (H), Liverpool (A), Wolves (H)
19. Crystal Palace - Difficulty ranking: 71
Arsenal (H), Liverpool (A), Aston Villa (H), Man City (A), Brentford (H)
18. Southampton - Difficulty ranking: 68
Tottenham (A), Leeds (H), Leicester (A), Manchester United (H), Chelsea (H)
17. Fulham - Difficulty ranking: 67
Liverpool (H), Wolves (A), Brentford (H), Arsenal (A), Brighton (H)
16. Nottingham Forest - Difficulty ranking: 67
Newcastle (A), West Ham (H), Everton (A), Tottenham (H), Man City (A)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on September 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
Bournemouth have hardly been afforded an easy start to life back in the Premier League with visits to both the Etihad Stadium and Anfield in August.
At least they're not alone. Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace also face that same challenge with their first four games of the campaign.
Southampton square off with two teams involved in the Champions League, while live looks similarly tricky for newly-promoted pair Fulham and Nottingham Forest.
15. Newcastle - Difficulty ranking: 64
Nottingham Forest (H), Brighton (A), Man City (H), Wolves (A), Liverpool (A)
14. Leicester - Difficulty ranking: 67
Brentford (H), Arsenal (A), Southampton (H), Chelsea (A), Man Utd (H)
13. Manchester United - Difficulty ranking: 59.5
Brighton (H), Brentford (A), Liverpool (H), Southampton (A), Leicester (A)
12. West Ham - Difficulty ranking: 58
Man City (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Brighton (H), Aston Villa (A), Tottenham (H)
11. Leeds - Difficulty ranking: 53
Wolves (H), Southampton (A), Chelsea (H), Brighton (A), Everton (H)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United reacts wearing the captains armband during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on January 03, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Liverpool couldn't have won any more easily on their last trip to Man United, rampaging to a 5-0 victory over the Red Devils.
Welcoming Jurgen Klopp's Reds to the 'Theatre of Dreams' in just his third Premier League match in charge probably wasn't top of Erik ten Hag's fixture wish-list as he seeks to implement his new regime at Old Trafford.
United also face a stern trio of away games in August, including a journey to Leicester - where they lost 4-2 last season.
10. Tottenham - Difficulty ranking: 51.5
Southampton (H), Chelsea (A), Wolves (H), Nottingham Forest (A), West Ham (A)
9. Brighton - Difficulty ranking: 47.5
Man Utd (A), Newcastle (H), West Ham (A), Leeds (H), Fulham (A)
8. Aston Villa - Difficulty ranking: 47.5
Bournemouth (A), Everton (H), Crystal Palace (A), West Ham (H), Arsenal (A)
7. Brentford - Difficulty ranking: 46.5
Leicester (A), Man Utd (H), Fulham (A), Everton (H), Crystal Palace (A)
6. Chelsea - Difficulty ranking: 46.5
Everton (A), Tottenham (H), Leeds (A), Leicester (H), Southampton (A)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea speaks to the media after the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux on December 19, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Aside from a trip to Chelsea, Spurs look to have been handed four very winnable games in their opening five contests.
Thomas Tuchel's men also possess a favourable run of initial games. Their new owners will no doubt be looking forward to a respectable points haul in August.
5. Liverpool - Difficulty ranking: 40
Fulham (A), Crystal Palace (H), Man Utd (A), Bournemouth (H), Newcastle (H)
4. Everton - Difficulty ranking: 39.5
Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Brentford (A), Leeds (A)
3. Wolves - Difficulty ranking: 37.5
Leeds (A), Fulham (H), Tottenham (A), Newcastle (H), Bournemouth (A)
2. Manchester City - Difficulty ranking: 37
West Ham (A), Bournemouth (H), Newcastle (A), Crystal Palace (H), Nottingham Forest (H)
1. Arsenal - Difficulty ranking: 35
Crystal Palace (A), Leicester (H), Bournemouth (A), Fulham (H), Aston Villa (H)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta manager of Arsenal celebrates their teams second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
With two newly-promoted sides on their early-season schedule - and not a European qualifier in sight - Arsenal fans could hardly have asked for a more reasonable slate of games with which to ease themselves into the new season.
The same can be said for Man City's fresh acquisition, Erling Haaland. The prolific Norweigian frontman must be relishing the prospect of home games against the likes of Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest as he looks to start his Premier League career with a bang.
End of season quiz: How much do you remember about the 21/22 football campaign?
Frank Lampard certainly had a rough beginning to his time as Everton manager, but the former England midfielder has reason for optimism in August. The Toffees will fancy their chances of picking up a few points in the early stages of the season.
Having been narrowly touched off by Man City in 2021/22, Liverpool will be intent on making a strong start to the new campaign - and their fixture list suggests they have every chance of doing just that.
Jesus to Arsenal done deal! (Reaction via The Football Terrace)