Frank Lampard is leading Coventry to the Premier LeagueImago

Coventry City: Opta Analyst predicts opening five games

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Published on:

20 Aug 2026, 7:43 am

Opta believes that Coventry City have the toughest opening five matches of the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.

The Championship champions are looking to retain their top-flight status this season after making their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001.

Frank Lampard will be keenly aware of how important a good start to the campaign will be if they are to avoid an instant relegation.

Coventry have already impressed in pre-season, and have won three of their seven matches, including victories against the likes of Espanyol and Monaco.

However, their odds of continuing this form into the start of the 2026-27 campaign seem slim.

The supercomputer has insisted that out of the 20 teams in the Premier League, Coventry face the toughest opening five games, which threatens to suck any momentum out of the club.

Coventry City face hardest start in the Premier League

Coventry City no doubt have a ridiculously tough start to the campaign.

On Friday, the Sky Blues will travel to the Emirates to take on Premier League champions Arsenal in the division’s curtain raiser.

Following this, a home match against Hull City comes next before a trip to Manchester City.

Coventry will then host Brighton and Hove Albion before travelling to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest.

Opta on 20 August believes that the average rating of each of these opponents is 93.9, making it the joint-hardest start alongside Bournemouth’s.

Therefore, for any Coventry fans hoping for a dream start to the Premier League season, this makes for grim reading.

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Are Coventry predicted to stay up this season?

Unfortunately for Coventry fans, their stay in the Premier League is only likely to last one season.

Opta believes that a relegation back into the Championship is likely, with a 27.88 per cent chance of this happening.

In fact, the Supercomputer believes that all three promoted sides will finish the campaign in the bottom three, with the Sky Blues having the best chance of beating these odds.

Sunderland are currently the most likely side to dip into the bottom three if Coventry are to avoid the drop, with a 25.7 per cent chance of relegation.

However, it remains to be seen who will finish the Premier League season in the bottom three.

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club