A chance to get excited months before anything actually happens

Tottenham have finally been granted their wish to kick-off a Premier League campaign at home but Liverpool will be the visitors for their first opener at White Hart Lane since 2004.

Spurs fans can take some comfort though from the fact Arsenal have been given a challenging away game on the opening weekend against Everton.

Wolves are the only promoted side who start at home - against West Ham - and the last five to have done so have avoided defeat. Every new arrival who has opened their campaign on the road over the last three seasons has lost and Birmingham and Burnley face tough trips to Man United and Stoke.

Manchester Utd striker opens up geographical debate

When asked about the possibility of moving abroad in an interview last week, Wayne Rooney (pictured after being made to sit through insultingly bad musical We Will Rock You) scoffed at the idea, and implied that even our nation’s capital seems foreign to him:

“Come on, can you ever see me playing for a foreign team? I love England, I love being close to my family.

“To be honest I don’t even like going down to London. I am not comfortable there. I’m a northern lad and I’d like to think I could stay here for the rest of my career.”

Granted, it’s expensive, over-crowded and the fish and chip shops won’t batter anything you present them with, but Rooney has had less than a torrid time in London: he made his England debut at the Boleyn in 2003, and has scored against all five London Premier League clubs, and has also managed a couple of goals at The Valley.

However, the balding badge kisser has scored more international goals in Manchester (four) than London (three) and he has only been victorious on four of the eight occasions he has scored away to London clubs, losing the last two.

We’ve heard Rooney’s opinion, but is the capital a friend or a foe? Lets settle this once and for all…