With the Premier League back in full swing, Manchester United and Fulham will kick off the 2023-24 season at Old Trafford on Friday, 16 August. But who else has had the honour of playing the opening game of the English top flight?
Since the Premier League's inception in 1992, fans have witnessed iconic opening day clashes. Liverpool's thrilling 4-3 victory over a newly promoted Leeds United in 2020/21 and Leicester City's 4-2 triumph against Sunderland in 2015/16, which launched their remarkable title-winning campaign, are just two examples. We can even delve back to 1997/98, where former England player Dion Dublin bagged a hat-trick in Coventry's 3-2 triumph over Chelsea.
Looking specifically at opening day fixtures, it's worth noting that from 1992 to 2002, and again in 2011 and 2012, the opening game was scheduled on the same day. Numerous teams have had the opportunity to grace the opening day stage, ranging from Swindon Town, who played just one opener (against Sheffield United in 1993), to Wimbledon FC, who surprisingly featured in eight opening day clashes, their last being a 3-2 win over Watford in 1999.
However, who has played the most Premier League opening day fixtures?
Interestingly, a three-way tie exists at the top of the table. However, before we reveal the leaders, let's consider the teams just below, forming another tie with 11 opening games each: Manchester United, Everton, Aston Villa, and Leeds.
Despite currently playing in the Championship, Leeds, with three league titles to their name, remain a significant force in English football history. Their first opening day match was in the inaugural 1992 season against Wimbledon. Manchester United, the 20-time league champions, will play their eleventh opening day match against Fulham this Friday. The Red Devils faced Everton in their last opening day fixture in 2005/06, while Aston Villa's most recent opening day appearance was a 0-1 defeat against West Ham in 2012.
The three teams who top the charts, all part of the 'Big Six', are Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham, each with 14 opening day matches under their belts.
Arsenal's Premier League debut was in 1992, where they suffered a 2-4 loss to Norwich. Their most recent opening day fixture was a 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace in 2022. Meanwhile, Tottenham's last opening day encounter was a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the 2015/16 season. Despite the loss, they secured a Champions League spot after finishing third in the table.
Liverpool's first opening day fixture was against Sheffield Wednesday, now a second-tier club, in 1993. The Reds won the game 2-0 but finished eighth in the table with 60 points. In contrast, their last opening day match against Norwich in the 2019/20 season saw Jurgen Klopp's side demolish their opponents 4-1, a game that ultimately propelled them towards a Premier League title with a record-breaking 99 points.
So, as the new season kicks off, keep in mind the history of these Premier League opening day clashes, and see how the current season unfolds for these teams that have played the most crucial first matches in the league's history.