Champions League outsiders Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United will both be aiming to rectify their midweek mistakes when they square off in Sunday's Premier League showdown in North London.
The Lilywhites made unwanted Premier League history in a 2-1 home defeat to West Ham United on Thursday evening, where their visitors were stunned 3-0 by relegation-battling Everton.
Match preview
© Reuters
How quickly the tables can turn in Premier League football - after taking more points than any previous manager in his first 10 games in the competition, Ange Postecoglou's fall from grace saw him set two undesired competition records during Thursday's London derby versus West Ham.
Tottenham would initially be rewarded for their fast start with a looping Cristian Romero header, but Jarrod Bowen capitalised on a pair of unfortunate ricochets to level the contest in the second half, before Destiny Udogie was the culprit with a poor backpass to Guglielmo Vicario, allowing James Ward-Prowse to complete the turnaround at the second time of asking.
As well as failing to make up ground on the Champions League places, fifth-placed Tottenham have now become the first team in Premier League history to go 1-0 up in five successive games but not win any of them, as well as losing three straight home fixtures after breaking the deadlock.
A blunt Postecoglou rejected the idea that his side are playing "good football" after they were punished for their failure to put the game to bed against West Ham, and with a draw against Manchester City being their only notable result since the start of November, the Lilywhites have fallen nine points behind Arsenal at the top of the standings.
Thursday's beating also marked the first time since September 2008 that Tottenham had lost three Premier League home games in a row - Spurs fans have to go further back to November 2004 for the last time that their side were beaten four times on the spin at White Hart Lane in the top flight - but Newcastle have their own wrongs to right this weekend.
© Reuters
Magpies boss Eddie Howe can share Postecoglou's pain when it comes to injury crises, although a decimated Newcastle team have often emerged from matches with their heads held high in recent weeks, sinking Chelsea and Manchester United in addition to an unjust draw with Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the loss of first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope proved to be the straw that broke the Magpies' back against Everton, who put three past Howe's men on Thursday thanks to a late flurry of efforts from Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Beto from the 79th minute onwards.
Barring their 8-0 annihilation of Sheffield United, points on the road have been incredibly hard to come by for Newcastle, who have now taken just two from the last 12 on offer away from home in the top flight, suffering back-to-back losses to Bournemouth and now Everton in the process.
The seventh-placed visitors remain firmly in the continental conversation, though, and they will overtake Tottenham if they can condemn the Lilywhites to a fourth successive home defeat, which will be easier said than done given their recent record on their travels.
Indeed, Newcastle's crushing of Sheffield United is also the only time in their last 16 top-flight away games that they have kept a clean sheet, but the Magpies did the double over Tottenham in the 2022-23 season, including that unforgettable 6-1 St James' Park mauling during Cristian Stellini's disastrous tenure.
Team News
© Reuters
More misery was piled onto Tottenham's shoulders against West Ham when Son Heung-min came off in visible distress during the final few moments, and while Postecoglou could not deliver an update, the Spurs captain himself played down the severity of his issue.
While Son is on course to be fit, none of Ivan Perisic (knee), Manor Solomon (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), James Maddison (ankle), Micky van de Ven (thigh), Rodrigo Bentancur (ankle), Ashley Phillips (ankle), Eric Dier (groin) or Alfie Whiteman (ankle) will return just yet, although Postecoglou has refused to use his side's injury crisis as an excuse for their poor form.
The Lilywhites welcomed one player back from the infirmary for the loss to West Ham, though, as Pape Sarr earned a few minutes off the bench after recovering from a knock and is now in contention to displace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, while Richarlison could threaten Brennan Johnson's place in the XI too.
Meanwhile, the rumour mill has been packed with stories surrounding a potential goalkeeper signing for Newcastle in January after it was confirmed that Pope would require surgery on the dislocated shoulder he sustained against Man United; Martin Dubravka will continue to deputise for the time being.
Jamaal Lascelles could not complete the full 90 at Goodison Park, although Howe does not believe that his skipper is suffering from anything more serious than a dead leg, but the visitors still have absentees in the double figures for their journey south.
Sven Botman (knee), Callum Wilson (thigh), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Dan Burn (back), Elliot Anderson (back), Joe Willock (calf), Sean Longstaff (ankle), Harvey Barnes (toe), Matt Targett (thigh) and Javi Manquillo (groin) all remain out of action, while Sandro Tonali remains suspended for the long-term too.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Lo Celso, Richarlison; Son
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Miley; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Newcastle United
Tottenham's lack of ruthlessness was evident against West Ham, but there was little that Postecoglou could have done about a double deflection or poor Udogie backpass for both of the Irons' goals, and the hosts have a golden opportunity to reignite their attacking fire this weekend.
As the injuries pile up for a Newcastle side who have not travelled well all season - nine goals shipped in their last four road contests attests to that - Tottenham can lift their home hoodoo and glean revenge for last season's beatings at the hands of the Magpies, who should still be backed to give Spurs a good run for their money either way.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
