The 2022/23 Premier League season is finally here, with Tottenham getting their campaign underway on Saturday afternoon with a home game against Southampton. Securing Champions League football on the final day of last term, confidence is certainly high in N17 at present and all will have their fingers crossed that it is a very successful season for Antonio Conte and his team.
Handed a home fixture on the opening day, many see it as a home banker given the contrasting fortunes of both teams in the final few months of 2021/22. While Spurs were in top form and picking up some big points in the run-in, Saints were slipping down the table at some speed following nine defeats from their final 12 fixtures.
So how exactly should Tottenham line up on Saturday afternoon against the south coast club? Our Tottenham Hotspur reporters have all named the side they would pick to face Southampton.
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Alasdair Gold - Tottenham Hotspur correspondent
Antonio Conte's first starting XI for the new Premier League season is likely to look very similar to the one that ended the last campaign in fourth place because of the fitness of his new recruits.
Spurs have so far signed six new players in Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence. However, Richarlison is suspended, Conte told football.london that Perisic is still trying to get his fitness back following his recovery from a calf injury and Yves Bissouma has a hamstring tweak that the Tottenham boss said means he might not be risked.
On the right, Matt Doherty is in a similar situation to Perisic as he works his way back from a knee injury. The Irishman appears to be Conte's first choice for the role but the fitter Emerson Royal could get the nod in the opening couple of matches, while Spence needs to get up to speed with his fitness and the step up to the Premier League.
At the back, Ben Davies is expected to be fit and pain-free in time to return to action for the match which should see him get the nod over Davinson Sanchez and Lenglet, as the on-loan Frenchman continues to adapt to Conte's demands in the back three and fitness requirements.
Gold's team: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Rob Guest - Tottenham Hotspur reporter
Tottenham fans wanting to see their new signings in the starting XI may have to wait another week given the current fitness of a couple of the additions. The game may come too soon for Ivan Perisic, who impressed at left wing-back last week vs Roma, to start as he works his way back to full fitness following the calf injury he sustained in his final appearance for Inter Milan.
Antonio Conte then has a decision to make over Yves Bissouma as he tweaked his hamstring last Saturday and may not be risked. One new signing definitely absent is Richarlison as he is suspended for the contest, while Djed Spence's lack of Premier League experience and minutes in pre-season will likely count against him.
As Matt Doherty is in the same boat as Perisic in terms of working his way back to fitness, Emerson Royal will keep his place in the team at right wing-back. One call the boss does have to make is whether Ben Davies is fit enough to start following his ankle injury as that will open up the door for Clement Lenglet if not.
Guest's team: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Emma de Duve - Tottenham Hotspur reporter
Tottenham need a strong start to the season and that will hopefully be made slightly easier by being on home soil. Conte does have some decisions to make, but he has made some comments regarding players' fitness and not wanting to risk those who may not be 100%.
Therefore I think Conte could play it safe with some of his choices. I think Lenglet could be handed his Premier League debut if Davies isn't quite 100% fit.
With Doherty and Perisic still needing to build their fitness up and it being maybe too soon for Spence to be thrown in, I could see Sessegnon and Royal starting down the flanks. There aren't really options in the middle, with Skipp being injured and Bissouma's hamstring knock meaning he also may not be risked.
Although there are options in the front three, I can see Conte sticking to what he knows to start with and maybe making some rotations during the game. So perhaps not as many new arrivals featuring as some would hope, but it is vital that Tottenham get off to a good start in what is hoped to be a successful season.
de Duve's team: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Royal, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
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