Tottenham finished last season on form and took Champions League football from the jaws of Arsenal, their north London rivals.
So Antonio Conte will be looking at starting the season as they ended the last one, with a win.
Spurs fans have high hopes going into the new campaign, with the exciting signings of Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma and others.
Southampton finished 15th and lost their final pre-season game, and have often looked susceptible to Golden Boot winner Son Heung-Min’s pace in attack.
Tottenham have not played a lot of pre-season games, just the four, and they lost the final one against former manager Jose Mourinho’s side AS Roma.
They will be quite desperate to return to winning ways this weekend at home, just to give the team that feeling of being on the winning side and get back on track.
Spurs have brought in six new signings to add quality to the squad and give the manager extra options, given they have Champions League football this season.
For Southampton, they lost their final four games of the season and they will be desperate to avoid a horrendous start that could leave them in trouble from the very beginning.
They certainly do have the tendency to cause an upset, but given that it’s the first match of the season, it’s hard to tell what kind of threat they will pose.
Antonio Conte has some big calls to make - mainly whether first-choice wing backs Matt Doherty and Ivan Perisic are fit to start.
There is also competition at centre back with the arrival of Clement Lenglet, while Richarlison is suspended.
So with all eyes on the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, this is how we predict the Italian manager will line up.

5. Matt Doherty
The Irish international was injured at the tail end of last season, but has been back and will look to build on his fine form before getting injured. | AFP via Getty Images

6. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Heightened competition for places now, but Hojbjerg will stay in the starting line-up. | Getty Images

7. Rodrigo Bentancur
A special player who was great at the end of last season, and will look to build on his partnership with Hojbjerg. | Getty Images

8. Ryan Sessegnon
Sessegnon has been in and out of the team because of injury, but with Ivan Perisic still coming back to full fitness the youngster could get the start against Saints. | Getty Images


