by Tottenham vs Newcastle LIVE!
Spurs return to St James’ Park for the first time since their 6-1 win last year in a much healthier place. For all Ange Postecoglou’s insistence that he doesn’t pay particular attention to ongoing analysis of the race for the Premier League’s top four, his team can take the lead later today.
They are level on points with Aston Villa but have a game in hand at Unai Emery’s side, who face a difficult trip to Arsenal on Sunday. Although fifth place may still be enough to secure Champions League football next season, Spurs will not rely on a coefficient they can’t do much about.
The hosts also have their own European hopes. They sit a point behind seventh-placed West Ham with a game in hand and have been in good form since the international break, although they were not always sure. Follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated game blog! Dan Kilpatrick will be providing expert analysis from the ground!
The latest news from Newcastle vs Tottenham
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Kick-off: 12.30pm BST, St James’ Park
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TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports
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Newcastle team news: Willock is the latest injury
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Tottenham team news: Richarlison still out
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Prediction: Spurs to avenge last season’s humiliation
11:12 , Young Alex
Spurs lost this game 6-1 last season, but can move 16 points clear of today’s hosts by overturning that result. Team news to come soon.
Postecoglou excited about Tottenham’s future
11:02 , Young Alex
Ange Postecoglou believes there is still “so much growth” to come from his young Tottenham players, and spoke clearly of Pedro Porro, Pape Sarr and Micky van de Ven in particular.
On Saturday, Spurs take on Newcastle at St James’ Park, where Porro and Sarr were two of the standouts in their humiliating 6-1 defeat last season, which brought the curtain down on the curious interregnum of interim coach Cristian Stellini.
Under pressure to leave Antonio Conte’s set-up, Stellini switched to a back four on Tyneside, with Porro at right-back, with disastrous results.
The game helped to establish the impression that the Spaniard was a wing-back specialist who could not be trusted in a back four.
But Postecoglou, who has revealed he is not watching the game back, says he has no concerns about using Porro in his current role.
“No, no,” said the Spurs manager on Friday. “I really enjoyed working with Pedro from the beginning.”
Read more here!
Eddie Howe on Tottenham
10:52 , Young Alex
“I respect them tactically; I praise them physically. A lot of credit must be given to Ange (Postecolou) for the job he has done and the philosophy he has implemented.
“I think they played really well this year.”
A ‘cautionary tale’ for Tottenham who dropped out at Newcastle
10:40 , Young Alex
Ange Postecoglou has described Newcastle’s collapse this season as a “cautionary tale” for Champions League-chasing Tottenham.
Newcastle finished 11 points ahead of Spurs last term but were unable to build on their top-four position, with Postecoglou’s side trailing 13 points ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at St James’ Park .
Eddie Howe’s side finished bottom of their Champions League group and his squad has been ravaged by injuries throughout the campaign.
Postecoglou has previously said that the decline of Newcastle and Manchester United this term are perfect examples of why finishing in the top four is not “Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket” to promotion.
When asked if the position of those clubs in the table represented his point, Postecoglou said: “I think I gave that as an example of one of the reasons why I don’t think it should be the final point or some way of thinking you will get. to be successful for a sustained period of time just because you have achieved that.
“There is certainly a caveat that going into the Champions League also means more demand. Demands on players, demands on the squad and you have to be prepared for it or it could affect every part of your season.
“It’s been really tough on Newcastle this year because the progress was amazing last year. That reward was the Champions League and this year, for whatever reason, it’s been a really challenging season for them all.”
Read more here!
Newcastle vs Tottenham prediction
10:31 , Young Alex
Newcastle have goals left, right and center and Spurs should have the tools to punish a new backline.
Tottenham to win, 3-1.
Tottenham team news
10:22 , Young Alex
Tottenham midfielder Ange Postecoglou faces big decisions in midfield.
Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr have tended to be Tottenham’s first choice this season but Spurs improved when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur replaced them at half-time in a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on last weekend.
Sarr, who came on as a substitute after 23 minutes as Spurs were 5-0 down on their last visit to St James’ Park, energizes the side and is likely to thrive now that he is no longer fasting for Ramadan, and has Postecoglou tended to comply. Bissouma.
The manager’s other decision is in the front three where Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson are jockeying for one spot on the right. Johnson, however, has been in good form of late and looks set to retain his place alongside Heung-min Son and Timo Werner.
Richarlison remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Manor Solomon (knee), Fraser Forster (ankle) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) are still out.
Newcastle team news
10:15 , Young Alex
Joe Willock is set to miss today with an Achilles injury, manager Eddie Howe said on Friday.
Willock, who has already missed much of the season due to Achilles and hamstring injuries, limped off in the first half of Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage last week.
Newcastle will be hoping it is not a long-term injury for Willock, with Jamaal Lascelles, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson among a long list of players already on the bench.
Howe said defender Tino Livramento was the closest player to injury, adding: “He didn’t train with the team but he was out and about.
“Lewis Hall hasn’t trained at all this week, so it’s a bit of a concern from last week.
“Other players are doing well in the background so hopefully we will get three or four goals in the not too distant future.”
Where to watch Newcastle vs Tottenham
10:06 , Young Alex
TV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT 1 sports for free, and Ultimate TNT sports game. Coverage will begin at 11am BST ahead of a 12.30pm kick-off at St James’ Park.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch a live stream through the App Discovery+.
Welcome
09:59 , Young Alex
Good morning and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League match between Newcastle and Tottenham at St James’ Park.
Spurs can open a three-point gap over Aston Villa with a win, taking firm control of the race for fourth place in the process, and face an injury-hit Newcastle side.
Spurs will also have revenge on their minds after suffering a humiliating 6-1 defeat at this ground 12 months ago, when Newcastle were 5-0 up after 21 minutes.
The game will start at 12.30pm BST, stay tuned.
