The big kick-off – how we have fared on opening days gone by

In years gone by, we have enjoyed a tremendous run of results on the opening day of the Premier League.

With the dawn of a new campaign upon us as we open our 2023/24 season on Sunday afternoon with a trip to Brentford, we have taken a look back at our recent opening day results – and it is fair to say they have been fruitful days for us.

In our last seven league seasons, on just one occasion have we been left empty handed come the full-time whistle of our opening game – that was a 1-0 defeat to Everton at the start of the 2020/21 campaign when football moved behind closed doors in line with COVID-19 regulations - while we have won five of the other six matches.

As we continue to look ahead to the opener at the Gtech Community Stadium, here’s a look back at those promising season openers…

2016/17 | Everton 1-1 Spurs

Beginning our look back with a clash at Goodison Park back in August, 2016, we start with our only draw of this list - and our only draw in our last 12 most opening day games - as we drew 1-1 with Everton.

We did get off to the worst possible start on Merseyside as not only did we fall behind following Ross Barkley’s floated free-kick, but we also lost captain Hugo Lloris to injury in the process.

However, as we kick-started what is, to date, our best-ever campaign in the top flight, we showed spirit and resolve at Goodison to get back on terms and take a point. That crucial goal came via the head of Erik Lamela just before the hour mark as the Argentine got the better of his marker to head home and earn us a draw.

2017/18 | Newcastle United 0-2 Spurs

After enjoying our best-ever Premier League campaign in 2016/17, we continued our fine form into the new campaign with an opening day victory against newly promoted Newcastle United.

Dominating from the off at St James’ Park, our control of the game was heightened just after the start of the second half as Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was sent off following an off-the-ball incident with Dele Alli.

With the man advantage, we then went on to claim the goal advantage as Dele volleyed home Christian Eriksen’s cross on 61 minutes. We then doubled our lead and, in doing so, wrapped up the victory with an unlikely goalscorer – Ben Davies – nipping into the box to roll the ball home from 12 yards nine minutes later. It should have then been made 3-0 in closing stages but Harry Kane’s strike from just inside the area cannoned off the post.

2018/19 | Newcastle United 1-2 Spurs

For the second consecutive season, we ran out winners against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on the opening day.

We made a very quick start to the clash in the north east with Jan Vertonghen squeezing the ball just about over the line – 9mm to be precise according to goalline technology – to put us 1-0 up on eight minutes, however the hosts replied swiftly with Joselu levelling just three minutes later.

Yet, in what was a chaotic opening to the encounter, we got ourselves back in front before we had even reached the halfway stage of the first period as Dele Alli restored our lead, guiding home a header on 18 minutes.

Incredibly, that was the last of the goals that day in the north east but that was largely due to some fine goalkeeping action at either end of the pitch with both Hugo Lloris and Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka making a number of fine saves.

2019/20 | Spurs 3-1 Aston Villa

Newly promoted Aston Villa nearly caused an upset on the opening day of the 2019/20 season when they visited north London, but a second-half comeback saw us storm to victory.

Within 10 minutes of the game, we were behind at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as John McGinn raced through before finishing, leaving us with it all to do. We pushed hard to get back into the game but Villa should discipline and organisation, frustrating us at every turn. If we were to get back into the game, it would require something special - and that is exactly what new man Tanguy Ndombele provided.

On his Spurs debut, the recent arrival from Lyon was the man to get us level, whipping the ball home from range in style on 73 minutes. Back on terms, we then stepped up the pressure and ultimately found a winner with just four minutes remaining as Harry Kane was alive to a loose ball in the box before finishing expertly. Our number 10 then added a second in stoppage time with a curling finish into the right-hand corner of the net to wrap up all three points in N17.

2021/22 | Spurs 1-0 Manchester City

As fans returned to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in full for the first time in 17 months following the global COVID-19 pandemic, we put on a show of heart, resilience and discipline in front our supporters as we fought valiantly for a deserved three points against the reigning league champions Manchester City.

On the front foot from the off, Lucas Moura almost had us ahead in the early exchanges when he saw an effort cleared off the line by Ilkay Gundogan before Heung-Min Son sent an effort narrowly wide.

Looking the more likely of the two sides to beak the deadlock, we did eventually find the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half as a swift counter-attack led by Steven Bergwijn saw Sonny cut inside from the right before whipping a fine curling effort into the opposite corner from the edge of the area. We could have then doubled that advantage moments later, but Bergwijn skewed wide from close range. In the closing stages, we had to remain firm at the back as City looked to force the issue, but we remained strong and claimed an impressive three points.

2022/23 | Spurs 4-1 Southampton

We made the perfect start to last season as we ran out convincing winners over Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite having fallen behind to the Saints with James Ward-Prowse volleying the visitors in front on 12 minutes, we responded well to that adversity and were level nine minutes later as Ryan Sessegnon headed home Dejan Kulusevski’s raking cross - that was his first ever league goal for the Club.

Eric Dier then turned the game on its head 10 minutes later as he headed us in front before a Mohammed Salisu own goal gave us breathing space on 61 minutes. Dejan then completed the scoring two minutes later with a fine curling effort, securing us all three points and sending us to the top of the Premier League table.