ARCH RIVALS
London rivals, title rivals and now champions Chelsea will be first up for Spurs at Wembley
TOTTENHAM’S first game at Wembley next season will see them renew their rivalry with Chelsea.
The north Londoners’ temporary home will be at the national stadium with White Hart Lane now under construction.
They have won only one of their last nine games at Wembley, with Mauricio Pochettino (above, right) seeing his side lose the FA Cup semifinal there to Chelsea last season.
Spurs, who go to newly-promoted Newcastle in their first game, were also seen off by Antonio Conte’s champions in the Premier League title race.
Chelsea, who could also seek a Wembley move when they refurbish Stamford Bridge, have not lost an opening-day Premier League fixture for nearly two decades, since being beaten by Coventry in 1998.
Conte (above, left) and his team kick off at home to Burnley before facing Tottenham.
Spurs and West Ham are already trying to reschedule home games which clash with prior commitments at Wembley and the Olympic Stadium.
Spurs, due to host Burnley on August 26, want to switch that fixture as the national stadium is set to stage rugby league’s Challenge Cup final.
West Ham are worried the converted Olympic Stadium will not be back in ‘football mode’ in time for the new season after hosting the athletics world championships, which end on August 13 – six days before Slaven Bilic’s side are due to host Southampton.
West Ham said in a statement: “As previously confirmed, our opening fixtures in August will be played away from home as London Stadium welcomes the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships.
“Supporters are advised that our fixture against Southampton will be rescheduled.”
One solution would be to reverse the fixtures, just as Liverpool’s games against Burnley were last season due to work at Anfield.