The Premier League returns on Saturday with all 20 teams optimistic of what their following 38 matches will bring.
Reigning champions Chelsea start as title favourites and begin their defence of their crown at home to Swansea on Saturday.
The omens for a Blues victory looks promising as Sportsmail delves into the opening day season stats with the help of bwin.
Blue is the likely colour on Saturday
It’s safe to say history is on Chelsea’s side when they entertain Swansea on Saturday.
In the entirety of the 23-year Premier League, the previous 22 champions have never tasted defeat in their opening game the following campaign.
The title winners have won 19 times, drawn three and lost none of their curtain raisers in the top-flight.
Throw in the fact that Chelsea are statistically the best ‘opening day’ team in Premier League history (with a record of 15 wins, five draws and three defeats from their 23 games) and the highest goalscorers (having netted 48 times in those matches) then Saturday’s clash looks ominous for Garry Monk’s side.
When it comes to starting the season badly – Leicester and Stoke sit firmly at the top of this stat.
Both clubs have only registered one win from their nine opening day fixtures – resulting in a woeful win ratio of 11.11 per cent.
Last season Leicester began life back in the top flight with a 2-2 draw at home to Everton, while Stoke started fruitlessly following a 1-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.
Leicester will be hoping to buck this trend when they entertain Sunderland on Saturday, with Stoke likewise when they host Liverpool a day later.
It’s not just Stoke and Leicester who are notorious slow starters in the Premier League. More established duo Southampton and Everton are also poor first-match merchants.
Despite never being relegated from the Premier League, Everton have only won just six of their opening 22 games. The Toffees would have played a game more but their 2011-12 opener at Tottenham was postponed due to the London riots that were taken place in that part of the city at the time.
Like Everton, Southampton’s form at the beginning of a top-flight season is equally poor with the Saints producing just two wins from their 16 appearances.
The obvious route to both clubs’ downfalls have been their defences, so it is no surprise then that they have conceded the most goals on Premier League opening day. Everton top the list with 35 goals conceded in 23, while Southampton have leaked in 22 strikes during their 16 fixtures.