Can United last the pace and put up a title fight?

WHEN’S THEIR HARDEST RUN?

THEY won’t fear any side but in October and November they face Liverpool (a), Spurs (a) and Man Utd (h) in the space of five matches. NOVEMBER and December see them take on Man City (a), Arsenal (h) and Liverpool (a) in a tough run of six matches. THE start before moving into the new stadium. They are away at Newcastle, Man Utd and Watford and at ‘home’ at Wembley v Fulham. DECEMBER sees the Merseyside derby (h, Dec 1) and Man Utd (h, Dec 15), before a double-header of Arsenal (h, Dec 29) and Man City (a, Jan 1). JANUARY and February see Arsenal (a, Jan 19), Man City (a, Feb 9) and Spurs (h, Feb 27) in a tough run of six matches. LIVERPOOL (a, Dec 29), Chelsea (h, Jan 19) and Man City (a, Feb 2) are three difficult games in a run of six including a derby at West Ham (Jan 12).

WHEN CAN THEY PICK UP MOST POINTS?

AFTER the opener against Arsenal they will expect 18 points from six matches against Huddersfield, Wolves, Newcastle, Fulham, Cardiff and Brighton. THEY should get points on the board early. Other than Spurs (h) in August they don’t face a top-six rival until Chelsea (a) on October 20. FROM December 5, eight of their next 12 games are at home and only Man Utd (h, Jan 12) are a top-six rival. AFTER Man City (a, Jan 1) — they have five straightforward games before visiting Man Utd on Feb 23. DECEMBER looks promising — other than Man City (h, Dec 8) — as they play Fulham, Wolves, Brighton, Leicester, Watford and Palace. SEPTEMBER and October. After that start against Man City and Chelsea they don’t face a topsix rival until Liverpool (h, Nov 3).

WHAT’S THEIR RUN-IN LIKE?

RELATIVELY straightforward. They play only one top-six rival in their final seven games — Spurs (h) on April 20. DECENT enough. Like rivals City, they have just one top-six side in the last seven games — Chelsea (h) on April 27. FOUR of their last six matches are at home — against Brighton, Huddersfield, West Ham and Everton. SPURS (Mar 30) and Chelsea (Apr 13) in the final seven matches shouldn’t be easy, though at least both are at Anfield. NOT the easiest, with Liverpool (Apr 13) and Man Utd (Apr 27) both away in the final five games. They finish with a trip to Leicester (May 12). FAVOURABLE. They finish with a run of eight games against Wolves, Newcastle, Everton, Watford, Palace, Leicester, Brighton and Burnley.

WHO DO THEY FACE AFTER EUROPEAN GAMES?

THREE home matches — including Man Utd (November 10) — and away games against Cardiff, Liverpool and Tottenham. THREE tricky away games — Man City, Southampton and Liverpool — and home games against Wolves, Newcastle and Everton. MAN CITY (h) and Arsenal (a) are the toughest of the six games, with Cardiff and Burnley at home as well and Brighton and Palace away. ALL six matches after Champions League group games are at home — though three are against Everton, Man City and Man Utd. FOUR away, plus Everton and Fulham at home — all on Sundays because of Thursday Europa League games. AN even split after Europa League games with three at home (Everton, Wolves, Spurs) and three away (Fulham, Palace, Southampton).

WHICH GAME WILL FANS BE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

ALL of them if they play like last season! But if it goes to plan they’ll hope they can turn the screw in the title race at Man Utd on March 16. AFTER the epic 3-2 win at the Etihad last season there will be high hopes for the first Manchester derby there on November 10. THE first match at the new White Hart Lane. Liverpool are the visitors on the weekend of September 15... assuming no more delays. DESPITE last season’s borefest, Man Utd at Anfield (Dec 15) is a game no fan will want to miss. THEIR first visit to Spurs’ new ground (Nov 24). They lost their final game at the old White Hart Lane but beat them at Wembley last season. A MOUTHWATERING opening game of the Unai Emery era against champions Man City at the Emirates (Aug 11). Expect it to be moved for TV...