Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are set to clash at St James’ Park this Sunday, both teams looking to solidify their early Premier League form. With four points each from their first two games, the upcoming match promises to be a closely contested encounter.
Tottenham enters this fixture on the back of a commanding 4-0 victory against Everton, a result that saw them bounce back strongly after a disappointing 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Leicester City in their season opener. Newcastle, on the other hand, managed a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth last weekend, following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Southampton, where they played much of the game with ten men.
With both teams eyeing a top-four finish this season, this match holds significant importance. Football pundit Paul Merson believes that Newcastle will capitalize on their home advantage and secure a vital win against Tottenham.
In his recent column for Sportskeeda, Merson acknowledged Tottenham’s impressive performance against Everton but expressed concerns over their ability to perform away from home, particularly in challenging fixtures like this one. “Tottenham had a brilliant result when they beat Everton 4-0 last weekend. But I’m backing Newcastle to win this one,” Merson stated.
The Arsenal legend pointed out that Tottenham has historically struggled in away matches against Newcastle, making this a crucial psychological test for Ange Postecoglou’s side. “This is a real test for Spurs, especially considering they’re playing away from home. In the past, I’ve seen Tottenham getting destroyed on the road in this particular fixture, so it’s a big test for them psychologically as well,” Merson added.
Merson also highlighted Tottenham’s underwhelming second-half performance against Leicester as a potential area of concern. He believes that the electrifying atmosphere at St James’ Park, combined with Newcastle’s robust home support, could push the Magpies to a narrow 2-1 victory. “The fans at St James’ Park will definitely be up for this game. It’ll be a different atmosphere there on Sunday,” Merson continued. “Tottenham have a lot to lose here and if they come out of this test unscathed, it’ll be a huge positive for them. That second-half performance against Leicester did not really impress me and that is exactly why I feel Newcastle could beat them in this clash.”
Both teams will have to contend with injury concerns going into this fixture. Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, confirmed that forwards Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are sidelined, while midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has returned to the squad and could feature in the match. For Newcastle, manager Eddie Howe will be without Callum Wilson and Lewis Miley. Additionally, Joe Willock is racing against time to be fit after sustaining an injury during Newcastle’s Carabao Cup victory over Nottingham Forest.
However, Newcastle will be boosted by the return of Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder made his first appearance for the club against Forest after serving a ten-month suspension and is expected to play a key role against Tottenham.
Despite the injuries, both teams possess enough depth and quality in their squads to ensure a highly competitive game. As both sides strive for a top-four spot, the outcome of this match could set the tone for their respective campaigns.
While Merson’s prediction of a Newcastle victory adds an extra layer of intrigue to the fixture, the match itself is likely to be a tightly fought battle, with both teams eager to prove their credentials early in the season. Tottenham will be looking to shake off their away-day woes, while Newcastle will aim to harness the energy of their home crowd to secure all three points.