Tottenham Hotspur will endeavour to record their best start to a season in 58 years when they welcome Sheffield United to North London on Saturday afternoon.
The Lilywhites have hit the ground running under Ange Postecoglou with 10 points from their opening four Premier League games, starting with a 2-2 draw at London rivals Brentford.
Successive wins over Manchester United, Bournemouth and Burnley soon followed for Spurs, who entered the international break sat second in the standings behind Manchester City.
With at least two goals to show from each of his four matches so far, Tottenham boss Postecoglou was recognised with the August Manager of the Month prize, while new signing James Maddison won the Player of the Month accolade.
Newly-promoted Sheffield United will be Spurs' next opponents in North London, and another maximum for the hosts would see them take 13 points from their first five games in a top-flight season for the first time in 58 years.
© Reuters
Tottenham have not begun a campaign in such strong fashion since the 1965-66 season, although they wound up finishing eighth in the First Division - their same ranking from the 2022-23 season.
By placing outside the top seven last term, Spurs were condemned to a year without European football for the first time in 14 seasons, but they have already taken steps to ensure a return to continental competition for 2024-25.
Indeed, Tottenham failed to win three Premier League games in a row throughout the entirety of the 2022-23 season, but they could now triumph in four on the trot for the first time since August 2022.
Furthermore, only Brighton & Hove Albion can better Tottenham's tally of 11 goals in the Premier League so far, and the 1965-66 season represents just one of two previous occasions that the Lilywhites scored at least twice in each of their first five games.
The first time Tottenham achieved that feat was in their historic 1960-61 season under Bill Nicholson, who guided the North London giants to a First Division and FA Cup double.
© Reuters
While Spurs have already broken into the podium spots early doors, Sheffield United are embroiled in a basement battle with just one point to show from their opening four contests, holding Everton to a 2-2 draw a fortnight ago.
The Blades have also suffered 11 consecutive Premier League losses to London clubs - conceding 26 goals and scoring just three at the correct end - although they did knock Spurs out of the FA Cup in the fifth round last season.
Tottenham will again be working without five players for the visit of Paul Heckingbottom's men, as Rodrigo Bentancur, Bryan Gil, Ryan Sessegnon, Giovani Lo Celso and Alfie Whiteman watch on from the sidelines.
Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero both suffered knocks during the international period, but the duo should be at Postecoglou's disposal this weekend.
Ben Knapton
