Eddie Howe's Newcastle United are set to host Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park on Sunday in each side's third game of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
The home team are seventh in the table with four points from their opening two matches against Southampton and Bournemouth, while the visitors also have four points but are in fifth place due to superior goal difference.
Match preview
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After a somewhat disappointing 2023-24 campaign in which Newcastle finished seventh, failed to qualify for European football and had marquee signing Sandro Tonali banned for most of the season, Howe might have hoped that 2024-25 would be less turbulent.
However, Fabian Schar was sent off after just 28 minutes in their opening Premier League match against newly-promoted Southampton on August 17, and the Toon were forced to concede possession and territory to the Saints as a result.
Midfielder Joelinton scored the only goal of the game in the 45th minute when he took advantage of an error by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, who played a loose pass to Alexander Isak in his own penalty area.
Newcastle were embroiled in controversy in their 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on August 25, with Cherries forward Dango Ouattara adjudged to have struck the ball with his arm when he converted what would have been the winning goal in the 92nd minute.
Joelinton managed to make the headlines again but this time for escaping a red card after he clotheslined goalkeeper Neto in second-half stoppage time, and even Howe noted that the Brazilian was lucky to have only picked up a yellow card.
The Toon drew 1-1 on August 28 against Nottingham Forest in the second round of the EFL Cup but advanced to the third round after winning 4-3 on penalties, and they will face AFC Wimbledon on September 17.
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Opponents Tottenham began their season with a disappointing 1-1 draw on August 19 against Leicester City, a match in which they had 70% possession and 15 shots.
Ange Postecoglou's side demonstrated their ability to produce exciting attacking football, including when Pedro Porro scored the game's opening goal in the 29th minute, though they also showed they can be vulnerable during counter-attacks.
Spurs' second game of the season against Everton on August 24 was much more straightforward, with one goal from Yves Bissouma, one from Cristian Romero and two from Son Heung-Min ensuring a 4-0 victory.
Tottenham were aided by Jordan Pickford's inexplicable error in the 25th minute when he let the ball roll across his path but failed to control James Tarkowski's pass, and this allowed Son to pounce and score Spurs' second.
Postecoglou's side are averaging the second most shots on target per match, have created the second most big chances and have had the most touches in the opposition box of any team in the Premier League.
The visitors come into the clash unbeaten in their last three league games, scoring eight goals in those matches.
In the last nine top-flight meetings between Newcastle and Tottenham the sides have scored a combined 40 goals, though Spurs have lost their last two league matches at St James' Park 6-1 and 4-0.
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Team News
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Newcastle have several absentees, including centre-backs Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles due to cruciate ligament injuries, while fellow centre-back Fabian Schar remains suspended.
Dan Burn and Emil Krafth started against Bournemouth as centre-back partners, and they could feature from the off once again on Sunday.
Callum Wilson, Lewis Miley and Joe Willock are all expected to miss out, while goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is a doubt.
Tonali returned to the pitch for Newcastle in their game against Nottingham Forest and could be in contention for a starting spot this weekend.
As for Tottenham, they will be without Richarlison for the next few weeks due to an injury he picked up in training, while Dominic Solanke remains unavailable for selection.
More positively, Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to be in the squad to face the Toon, though he will have to feature from the bench if Postecoglou selects Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison in midfield.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Kelly; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Johnson, Son, Odobert
We say: Newcastle United 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur
It would not be surprising if Sunday's game is a high-scoring affair given the nature of recent encounters between the sides.
While Spurs have defensive issues to contend with, Newcastle's backline has been decimated due to injury and suspension, and this could give the visitors the advantage this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
