Today the Premier League fixtures for the 2016/17 were released by the Premier League, and Spurs will begin their season on the road again, this time with a trip up to Everton, and end the season again away from home against newly-promoted Hull City. We take a look at eight fixtures that could prove to be key in Tottenham’s season. All dates are subject to change.
1) Tottenham v Liverpool- Saturday 27th August
Looking at the fixture list, this is the first real test that our Spurs side will face, three weeks into the Premier League season after a trip to Everton and a home test against Crystal Palace.
We will of course be without Mousa Demebele, who will miss the start of next season through a ban, and the game against Jurgen Klopp’s will be a good test for our stand-in midfield partnership, whoever that may be. This game will be a good indicator of how well we have actually started the new campaign.
2) Arsenal v Tottenham- Saturday 5th November
This is the big one for Spurs, the first of our two league clashes with Arsenal is at the Emirates, where we drew 1-1 last season, and perhaps should have taken all three points.
There is always a special atmosphere at North London derbies, and there is no reason why this would be any different. Spurs will be desperate to get one back on Arsenal after the Reds pipped Spurs to second place last season
3) Chelsea v Tottenham- Saturday 26th November
Spurs got the better of Chelsea last season in terms of league finishing position, but Chelsea will feel that they had the last laugh in the infamous ‘Battle Of The Bridge’, where we lost the league before our capitulation in the last two games of the season.
It is fair to say that Chelsea underperformed last season, and under new manager Antonio Conte, the Blues will be aiming high this season, providing another tough away test for Spurs in November.
4) Manchester City v Tottenham- Saturday 21st January
We have good memories of a visit to the Etihad Stadium last season with Christian Eriksen striking late to hand Spurs all three points after Harry Kane dispatched a spot-kick earlier on in the game.
City will also have a new manager at the helm next season, who has been labelled the best in the business by some. The Manchester club could prove an extremely tough team to best next season, and three points for visiting teams at the Etihad are likely to be hard to come by.
5) Leicester v Tottenham- Saturday 22nd April
Spurs and Leicester battled it out for the title last season, and this fixture next season may not have as serious implications as it would have done last term, but we could be wrong yet again.
This fixture signals the start of an extremely tough run-in where we face three very big rivals in the last four weeks, so three points here if Leicester are not as strong as last year might become a must if we are challenging for Champions League or maybe even the title.
6) Tottenham v Arsenal- Saturday 29th April
This will be the last ever North London derby at White Hart Lane before it is knocked down, and it is likely to be a very emotional affair.
Not only will the occasion be special, but being the fourth from last fixture of the season, the two rivals could be battling it out for top four spots, and could prove to be a six-pointer.
7) West Ham v Tottenham- Saturday 6th May
This will be the first fixture between the London rivals since West Ham’s move to the Olympic Stadium, and it seems that West Ham are always up for a game against Spurs, and this could prove to be a very tough game.
It was a 1-0 loss at Upton Park that seriously dented out Premier League title hopes, and hopefully it will not be a similar result away at West Ham that costs us dear come the end of the season.
8) Tottenham v Manchester United- Saturday 13th May
This will be the last game ever to be played at White Hart Lane, and what a great send-off it would be if we could beat Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in our final game at the Lane.
It will be a special occasion, but the players must not get distracted as crucial points will be up for grabs, and these could be precious points for either side on the day.
