Premier League 2018/19: Three clubs with the easiest starts to the season

The 14th of June is a day filled with excitement. Besides the start of the World Cup in Russia, next season's Premier League fixtures have also been announced. Manchester City won last season's title with hardly any challenge from the rest of the Premier League clubs. The fight for Champions League qualification spots remained heated until the final matchday. Eventually, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Liverpool will follow the title-winners to the UEFA Champions League next season. Chelsea and Arsenal sadly missed out but both clubs made it to the Europa League along with Burnley.

Wolverhampton Wanderers earnt direct promotion back to the first-tier football competition in England. Cardiff City and Fulham too will join them in the Premier League. With the fixtures announced, fans are busy analyzing which clubs have the easiest paths.

Many players from the top six clubs are involved in this summer's World Cup which will last until mid-July. After the competition ends, the players are bound to go on an extended break and may not play a part in the first few games. Considering the opening three matches of each team, here is a look at the three clubs that have the easiest start to the season.

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#3 Liverpool

The Liverpool team will have a comfortable beginning

Liverpool will not be facing any tough competitors in the opening three matches in August. During the month, they will host West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion. Additionally, Klopp's boys will travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in the middle of the month. For the first time since the 2014/15 season, Premier League action will start at Anfield.

Considering that all three clubs they are set to face finished the previous season in the bottom half of the table, Liverpool do admittedly have a friendly beginning to the season. Liverpool had a pretty impressive season last time around, with Mohamed Salah being the club's record scorer. The Egyptian had a blistering start to his debut season for the Reds. If he is able to score as frequently as he did in his first season, Liverpool fans are in for a real treat.

Defensively, Klopp has already strengthened the backline. Virgil van Dijk who was signed in January has proven to be quite a reliable signing. As he is not taking part in this summer's World Cup, he would have the opportunity to link up with his team-mates for the pre-season games. At the same time, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been incredible for the majority of the games that he has played. The youngster is set to play his first ever World Cup after traveling to Russia with Gareth Southgate's side. Klopp's duty is now to look for an excellent shot-stopper.

Both Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet were unable to live up to the expectations last season. In fact, Liverpool could have gone a lot further if the club had not conceded that many goals. A good beginning for the Reds can possibly boost their confidence and give an added advantage to challenge for the title.

#2 Cardiff City

The Welsh team are making a return to the Premier League

Cardiff City will first play against AFC Bournemouth away from home before hosting Newcastle United. Thereafter, they travel to face the Terriers in the last match of August. Similar to Liverpool, The Bluebirds avoid the top six clubs in the opening three matches.

The interesting thing to note is that both Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town were in the Championship just two years back. Neil Warnock surely will be familiar with the two clubs that he will face in August. His side will face a tough time in September. As such, it is crucial that Cardiff City get positive results from their opening fixtures.

Greg Cunningham is the latest addition to Warnock's team after Josh Murphy joined the Welsh side. Together, the duo cost the club £14 million. Reports are saying that the manager is looking to sign a few more players to improve the club's standards. Thus far, a left-back and a winger have been added. It is rumored that the club still want to sign a midfielder.

With the majority of the players not participating in the World Cup, they will have the time and energy to focus on their first three games of the Premier League. It is possible for them to get all nine points.

#1 Manchester City

Guardiola could be on his way to another Premier League trophy

Manchester City will face Arsenal at the Emirates in the opening fixture on 11 August. Despite Arsenal being a top-six club, Unai Emery's record against the former Barcelona manager is quite poor. In 10 matches, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager has won none of them.

Many Arsenal stars are also involved in the upcoming World Cup including Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck, and Granit Xhaka. Thus far, the Gunners have signed Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, with the latter yet to be announced. Emery is also said to be closing deals for a defensive midfielder and a goalkeeper. These additions will surely improve the club's defense over time. However, there may not be an immediate effect seen against the already strong Manchester City team.

Besides Arsenal, the Citizens will face Huddersfield Town and then newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers in August. Despite the Wolves securing the Championship title last season, the club are not expected to be fierce competitors in the Premier League, especially against the champions of the league. Huddersfield Town finished the season just above relegation and should not pose too much of a problem for Guardiola's side.

Even if most of the players are not fully fit for the beginning stages of the competition, it should not be difficult for City to secure all nine points.

What do you think of the Premier League fixtures? Let us know in the comments.