Five teams to lose opening five games in English first division

Vincent Kompany's Burnley are struggling in the Premier League 2023-24 season

The English first division is tough and can be ruthless from game to game. Starting the season on the right note is absolutely vital as it sets the tone for the rest of the season. Over the years, the Premier League has brought some joyous moments of pure skill and drama, featuring stunning goals and last-minute reversals. It has also served up some absolute dross moments.

It is not good to completely write off anyone at the beginning of the season, but some teams suffer at the beginning of the season. Starting the season with consecutive defeats is a rare occurrence but it has happened a few times in the past. Here is a look at five teams who have lost their first five home games in the English first division.

Teams to lost five opening games in English first division

Manchester United (1930-31)

Nicknamed the Red Devils, The club competes in the Premier League, the top division in the English football league system. Domestically, Manchester United have won a record 20 top-flight league titles, 12 FA Cups, six League Cups and a record 21 FA Community Shields. In international football, they have won the UEFA Champions League three times, the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup once each.

Considered to be one of the best clubs of all time, the Red Devils had a disappointing season in 1930 where they suffered some humiliating defeats in their home and were winless in their first five home games. Those five games were against Aston Villa, Huddersfield Town, Newcastle, Grimsby and Arsenal. At the end of the season, United finished last in the league and were relegated to the Second Division.

Portsmouth (2009-10)

Portsmouth currently competes in the EFL League One, the third tier of English football. But in 2009 they were competing in the Premier League and suffered some big losses during that season.  They are known as "Pompey". After 32 consecutive years in the First Division, Portsmouth were relegated to the Second Division in 1959 and was followed by a further relegation to the Third Division in 1961.

Portsmouth were relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time in 1978. After winning promotion as the second-tier champions in 2003, Portsmouth competed for seven years in the Premier League and got relegated after the 2009-10 season. They lost their first five home games against, Fulham, Manchester City, Bolton, and Everton.

Bolton (2011-12)

Bolton competes in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system. They have spent 73 seasons in the top-flight without winning the title; more than any other club. At the end of the season, Bolton Wanderers finished in eighteenth place in the Premier League, meaning relegation to the following season's Football League Championship and ending their longest run in the top division for forty-eight years.

They started the 2011 season with a win against QPR but then everything went downhill for them. They lost their first five home games against Man City, Man United, Norwich, Chelsea and Sunderland.

Newcastle United (2018-19)

The club's most successful period was between 1904 and 1910 when they won an FA Cup and three of their League titles. Their last major domestic trophy was in 1955. The 2018–19 season was Newcastle United's second season back in the Premier League following their promotion from the 2016–17 EFL Championship. They lost five consecutive home games that season against, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester City and Brighton. After a bad start to the season, everyone thought they would be relegated but fortunately, they finished 13th that season.

Burnley (2023-24)

The 2023–24 season is the 142nd season in the history of Burnley and their first season back in the Premier League since the 2021-22 season following their promotion from the EFL Championship in the previous season. Burnley have been champions of England twice, in 1920–21 and 1959–60, have won the FA Cup once, in 1913–14, and have won the FA Charity Shield twice, in 1960 and 1973. 

Vincent Kompany is sticking to the style of football he used to get Burnley promoted last season, but it remains to be seen if they have the quality in their squad to play that way in the top flight. They have started this season in a disappointing way as they have earned only four points in eight games and have lost five consecutive home games as of now. They lost to Man City, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Man United and Chelsea at home. Kompany has to find a way to perform well or he will be removed as the head coach of Burnley.