Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas believes the opening day trip to Crystal Palace is a “tough start” after the Premier League fixtures were revealed.

Tottenham start the season at Selhurst Park before a fixture against Swansea the following week and a North London Derby at Arsenal to end August.

Palace came up through the play-offs after finishing fifth in the Football League Championship but the Portuguese is wary of the threat they pose.

“Selhurst Park is always a difficult stadium to go to, it’s a London derby and a tough start,” he told the club website.

Tottenham have back-to-back fixtures against Chelsea (September 28) and West Ham (November 3) while November sees the Manchester clubs played over consecutive weekends.

“At certain times of the season we have compact fixtures with the top teams again,” said the 35-year-old.

“So, for example, last season we had Arsenal and then Manchester City, both away, and we have the same this time."

Villas-Boas is also keen to replicate the run Spurs had between November and New Year’s Day last season when there were seven wins from nine games.

"November and December is when we gathered many points last season and we will look to do the same again. This time we go to Old Trafford on New Year's Day, a huge game."