EPL 2009/10: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The much awaited schedule for the 2009/10 season of the English Premier League is finally out. Let's take a closer look at how the season may unfold for teams on a month to month basis.

Disclaimer: The statistics presented below are an approximation based solely on Premier League standings of the previous season (2008/09). The possibility of certain matches being rescheduled has been excluded.

The two teams mentioned under each month are the teams having the easiest and the most difficult opponents in that particular month. The number beside each team depicts the difficulty index. Lower the difficulty index, easier the opponents. The difficulty index does not take into account team changes that may occur during the transfer window.

August 2009:
Burnley (71) - Stoke (A), Man U (H), Everton (H), Chelsea (A)
Chelsea (5) - Hull (H), Sunderland (A), Fulham (A), Burnley (H)

September 2009:
Manchester City (38) - Arsenal (H), Man U (A), West Ham (H)
Liverpool (-3) - Burnley (H), West Ham (A), Hull (H)

October 2009:
Bolton Wanderers (59) - Tottenham (H), Man U (A), Everton (H), Chelsea (H)
Wigan Athletic (12) - Hull (A), Man City (H), Burnley (A), Portsmouth (A)

November 2009:
Burnley (38) - Man City (A), Aston Villa (H), West Ham (A)
Fulham (4) - Wigan (A), Birmingham (A), Bolton (H)

December 2009:
Hull City (78) - Aston Villa (A), Blackburn (H), Everton (H), Arsenal (A), Man U (H), Bolton (A)
Everton (24) - Tottenham (H), Chelsea (A), Hull (A), Birmingham (H), Sunderland (A), Burnley (H)

January 2010:
Birmingham (58) - Man U (H), Portsmouth (A), Chelsea (A), Tottenham (H)
Chelsea (-9) - Hull (A), Sunderland (H), Birmingham (H), Burnley (A)

February 2010:
Everton (54) - Liverpool (A), Chelsea (H), Man U (H), Tottenham (A)
Fulham (-1) - Bolton (A), Burnley (H), Birmingham (H), Sunderland (A)

March 2010:
Wolves (51) - Man U (H), Burnley (A), Aston Villa (A), Everton (H)
Everton (-4) - Hull (H), Birmingham (A), Bolton (H), Wolves (A)

April 2010:
Birmingham (49) - Liverpool (H), Man City (A), Hull (H), Aston Villa (A)
Liverpool (7) - Birmingham (A), Fulham (H), West Ham (H), Burnley (A)

May 2010:
Stoke City (27) - Man U (H), Wolves (A)
Man U (-6) - Sunderland (A), Stoke (H)

Schedule Recap:
Manchester United and Chelsea have the easiest start to the 2009/10 season. It would be no surprise to see these two teams top the standings at the end of August with maximum points and better goal differentials.

On the other end of the spectrum is a side promoted from the Championship. Whether a fan or not, one has to feel sad for Burnley. It's not going to be a fairy tale beginning since they have to face Man U, Chelsea, and Everton in consecutive weeks.

Three months down the line, Manchester United, Everton, and Chelsea have had the relatively easier schedule compared to the rest of the league. Come November, Manchester United and Chelsea should continue to dominate the standings. This season, however, Everton should be comfortably ahead of Aston Villa at the end of October.

Burnley have a couple of months to recover from the shock of August before they have to put up with Gareth Barry and Man City.

Everton fans can look forward to an exciting December as Christmas gifts are a plenty. Their team has the best opportunity to accumulate points with opposition coming in the form of Hull, Birmingham, Sunderland, and Burnley. Half way through the season, Everton's chances of being in the top four cannot be ruled out.

In the final three months of the season, Arsenal, Everton, and Liverpool are the teams making merry. Manchester United, however, have the easiest month of May with Sunderland and Stoke in quick succession.

Among the big four teams, Chelsea have the most difficult end to the season and if they have not capitalized in 2009, they may find it hard to keep pace with whoever is challenging them in the standings.

At the same time, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Man U can make amends towards the end if they did slip up a little during mid season.

Despite a terrible start, Burnley have it easy during the second half of the season. Considering the schedule of the final three months, Wolves, Birmingham, and Bolton have the most difficult end to the season. However, Stoke has to contend with Man U in the month of May.

All in all, it promises to be a season with nail-biting action at both ends of the table. Let's wait and watch!