Thomas Frank and Tottenham are now less than 24 hours away from discovering their 2025/26 Premier League schedule. It will once again be the start of a brand new era at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the club elected to part with Ange Postecoglou and replace him with the Dane.
Frank made a huge name for himself during his time at Brentford and he fully deserves the opportunity to test himself at a bigger club. The 51-year-old will be hoping for a kind start to his Tottenham tenure when the new season's fixtures are released at 9am on Wednesday, June 18.
The new season commences on Friday, August 15, with the opening weekend games set to be spread over four days and draw to a conclusion on Monday, August 18. So what would be the best and worst case scenarios for Frank and Tottenham in his first Premier League match in charge? football.london takes a look below.
Best case
Brentford
It wouldn't be a surprise if the fixture computer threw up an early Brentford reunion for Frank. Having spent so long at Brentford and played a pivotal role in their incredible rise, it may be written in the stars that the Dane comes face-to-face with his former club very early on in the season.
Whereas some may see it as a game where he could quite easily slip up, it may be better for Frank and Brentford to go toe-to-toe early on. After all, he knows their players inside out, star men such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa may no longer be at the club and his exit could have a major impact on the team.
Promoted club at home
Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland are back at England's top table after successful 2024/25 seasons in the Championship. All eyes will be on who the trio get on the opening day.
A home game against either would suit Tottenham but away fixtures perhaps wouldn't be the ideal start. The trio, who will still be riding the promotion high, would be looking to get off to the best possible start and would be backed by raucous home crowds on the opening weekend.
Sunderland or Burnley would probably be the pick for many from the promoted clubs.
Bottom-half rival at home
The 2024/25 Premier League season was one to forget for Tottenham as they finished 17th. Spurs could have finished as high as 14th on the final day of the campaign but they lost against Brighton & Hove Albion and other results went against them.
As it was fairly close in the standings between themselves Wolves, Manchester United and West Ham, an opening day fixture against one of the aforementioned sides may suit them, especially if it is at home. Everyone hopes for a home game on the opening weekend and Spurs will be keeping their fingers crossed that is the case come fixture release day.
Chelsea
You may question why Chelsea are in this category given Spurs' dire record against them but there is a very good reason. The Blues are taking part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this summer and they could be playing matches into the middle of July if they are to reach the latter stages of the competition.
As a number of players may have gone straight into international action after the Premier League season had ended before then heading to the Club World Cup, it remains to be seen what their fitness levels will be like come the opening day of the Premier League season. Enzo Maresca does have a large squad at his disposal, though, and will be able to rotate if required.
It may in fact be a good time to play Chelsea rather than wait until later in the season when they are up to full speed.
Worst case
North London Derby
You don't tend to see rival teams pitted against each other in a huge derby on the opening weekend of the season. A match against Arsenal is the last thing Spurs would want given their disastrous record against them recently.
The Gunners look set to make some notable moves in the transfer market and they will be keen to get off to the best possible start after once again missing out on a trophy. It would be some fixture if Tottenham and Arsenal were to open the season against each other.
Liverpool
Liverpool are another team Tottenham will want to avoid at all costs in their first Premier League fixture of 2025/26. The Reds cruised to only their second ever Premier League title and they hit Tottenham for five at Anfield on the day they were officially crowned champions.
Spurs do not fare well at Anfield and they will be desperate to avoid meeting them first up.
Tough away day
The last thing Tottenham will want in their first game of 2025/26 is a tough away day. Tottenham were wretched on the road across the 2024/25 season and only managed to win five of their 19 away fixtures in the league.
Given the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Newcastle United were so strong at home, Tottenham will not want to be travelling to one of those six teams.