Tottenham Hotspurs welcome Southampton to the Premier League matchday one encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Antonio Conte will be charged for his first full season with the North London outfit after he masterminds his side to a fourth-place finish ahead of rivals Arsenal with a 5-0 thrashing of relegated Norwich City on the last day of the season to clinch Champions League football.
The Italian tactician has overseen Tottenham victories over Team K-League and Rangers in pre-season before playing a 1-1 draw with Sevilla and suffering a 1-0 loss to Roma in the I-Tech Cup.
Southampton have been declining by point in the Premier League in each of his full seasons since Ralph Hasenhuttl’s three and a half years at the helm (52, 43, 40).
The Saint has brought in Super Eagles attacking midfielder Joe Aribo, Manchester City keeper Gavin Bazunu, Bordeaux’s Sékou Mara, Bochum’s Armel Bella-Kotchap, and Altay shot-stopper Mateusz Lis to boost their fifteen place finish last term.
IMPORTANT STATS
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham have seen over 2.5 goals in their last eight home matches against Southampton in all competitions.
Conte’s men have banged in at least two goals in their last seven home games against Southampton in all tournament.
Spurs have won six of their last seven home fixtures in Premier League and kept a clean sheet in their last three matches in the English topflight.
