Yahoo Sports Newcastle vs Tottenham: Preview, predictions and lineups
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur meet on Sunday afternoon in a Premier League fixture that has delivered some ridiculous scorelines in recent seasons.
St James' Park has been the scene of two humiliations for Spurs in the last two campaigns, with the Magpies trouncing their London opposition 6-1 and 4-0 in their most recent duels in the north.
Eddie Howe's are yet to click into gear at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, scrapping their way to a 1-0 win over Southampton on the opening weekend after Fabian Schar was sent off before claiming a point away at Bournemouth.
Tottenham, meanwhile, were inefficient in front of goal during their visit to Leicester City but managed to brush off the cobwebs against Everton, securing a 4-0 triumph powered by Son Heung-min's brace.
With the two sides locked on four points apiece after the first two gameweeks, here's 90min's preview of Sunday's encounter.
Newcastle vs Tottenham H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
How to watch Newcastle vs Tottenham on TV and live stream
Newcastle team news
Newcastle are particularly stretched in the centre of defence, with Schar's suspension not helping matters. Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are already injured, meaning Emil Krafth will likely partner Dan Burn once again.
Harvey Barnes came off the bench to set up Anthony Gordon's equaliser at Bournemouth and may hope to start, though that would mean finding a way to include two left wingers in the starting XI.
Sandro Tonali made his comeback from a lengthy ban for betting offences during the midweek Carabao Cup penalty shootout win against Nottingham Forest and is available for Premier League action once again. Alexander Isak has started the season slowly but has scored four goals in three appearances against Tottenham so far.
Newcastle predicted lineup vs Tottenham
Newcastle predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Kelly; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Tottenham team news
Following Rodrigo Bentancur's head injury at Leicester, Yves Bissouma was brought back into Ange Postecoglou's starting XI and immediately repaid his manager's faith with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box against Everton.
There could be a change in midfield, where James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski started alongside Bissouma last week. Such an attacking team could be picked apart by higher level opposition such as Newcastle, so Pape Sarr or Bentancur may come back in.
Summer signing Dominic Solanke missed last week's match after suffering an ankle problem at the King Power Stadium and isn't expected to be fit.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Leicester (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Maddison, Sarr, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Son, Odobert.
Tottenham have a fair few demons they'd like to vanquish this weekend. They slipped to one of their most embarrassing defeats in Premier League history under interim boss Cristian Stellini, who quickly lost his job in the aftermath, while Postecoglou's troops were ripped apart again in April earlier this year.
Sunday's visitors may take more confidence with them up north after a comprehensive battering of Everton which included a clean sheet, but their backline is susceptible to wilting when pressure and Newcastle will know they have the tools necessary to make major inroads.
The Magpies are stretched for personnel and may be more fatigued having played in midweek, so Tottenham will hope to leave St James' Park with something to show for their efforts.
