This fixture has produced a lot of great games over the years and goals are normally guaranteed, Tottenham have won four of the last five meetings at White Hart Lane, which will boost them going into this weekend. There have been 22 goals in the last 7 matches between the two in North London, which averages at 3.14 goals per game. They are sides of similar stature in terms that over the past decade, both have had chances to break the top four, and both have played in the Premier League era, however neither have cemented themselves as consistent top four sides. At the moment Tottenham are closer to doing that, with Newcastle being more concerned with relegation.
Tottenham came into the season with great enthusiasm as their fans continued to talk about a top four finish, and it’s possible in a year that Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton are all dropping points, but that shouldn’t be the expectation. Spurs are still a developing side with a lot of young players. A lot is expected from Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen, despite both only being 22. Their problem in front of goal can’t be ignored as none of Emmanuel Adebayor, Roberto Soldado or Harry Kane look to have the quality to score consistently in the top flight. Their start hasn’t been too bad, with last weekend’s scoreline at Manchester City not being a fair reflection on the match, however, being in the Europa League could have a telling effect.
Meanwhile, after a disastrous start, Newcastle are beginning to show some fighting spirit. The quality that was expected from them this year hasn’t appeared yet, but they are certainly playing for their manager. The likes of Remy Cabella, Moussa Sissoko and Siem de Jong (when he returns) all have the quality to impress in the league and drive Newcastle up the table. They managed to get their first win of the season against Leicester and that could be the turning point of their season and they may come out at White Hart Lane a different team. It would be foolish to suggest the pressure is entirely off Pardew, with many still seeing him as a dead man walking, but a good performance this weekend could go a long way towards repairing the damage.
In the fixture last season, Newcastle triumphed thanks to a marvelous performance from Tim Krul who made the most amount of saves ever recorded in a Premier League match (14). The away side won 1-0 that day, with Loic Remy scoring the goal. The reverse fixture was won by Tottenham comfortably 4-0, with Emmanuel Adebayor (2), Paulinho and Nacer Chadli scoring the goals.
Interesting Stats
- Mauricio Pochettino will become the fourth Tottenham manager that Alan Pardew has faced since taking over at Newcastle in December 2010.
- Gabriel Obertan’s goal to beat Leicester City was only his second strike in the Premier League and his first since the 2011/12 season. His last goal for Newcastle came in the Europa League two seasons ago.
Key Men
Eriksen
Christian Eriksen has performed well this season to date, scoring three goals in the league, but surprisingly he has yet to get an assist. Against Manchester City, he looked a constant threat, with his movement and passing causing issues for the City backline, while his goal was well taken as he managed to get Spurs back into the game. If he plays to a similar level this weekend then Newcastle could have huge problems dealing with him. The Dane is only 22 with a lot of years ahead of him, it’s clear he is going to become a top class player, and unless Spurs progress to a Champions League side, they may struggle to keep him long term. His passing range, movement and positional sense are all brilliant and he is likely to find lots of space against a poor Newcastle side defensively.
Cisse
Papiss Cisse has made a sensational return to form since returning from injury. Many had written him off over the summer as he wasn’t even considered an option by many supporters as a solution to Newcastle’s woes in front of goal, showing how far his stock had fallen since arriving two and a half years ago. He has come back from his knee injury and scored four goals already, which is double the amount of league goals he got last season. Alan Pardew was under pressure and still is, but Cisse’s re-emergence has boosted the side and the fight appears to be there, showing the influence the striker has had on the squad since returning from injury. Newcastle are a bigger threat with Cisse in the team than without him at the moment.
Team News
Kyle Naughton, Nabil Bentaleb and Kyle Walker are all expected to miss out this weekend as they continue to recover from their respective injuries. Federico Fazio is suspended after being sent off against Manchester City, which could see Jan Vertonghen return to the starting eleven. Roberto Soldado may be dropped after his disappointing showing against the champions.
Mike Williamson, Papiss Cisse, Emmanuel Riviere, Sammy Ameobi, Paul Dummett and Cheick Tiote are all doubts, but are expected to be available this weekend. Ryan Taylor is set to take his place on the bench after over two years out, while Davide Santon, Rolando Aarons and Siem de Jong will all miss out
Betting
Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice in the last meeting between the sides. If you think he will score this weekend, you can get odds of 2.32 with TailorBet here.
Bet here: eplindex.com/tailorbet
Verdict
After playing in the Europa League on Thursday, Tottenham may be tired going into this match, therefore a quick start is crucial for Newcastle. An early goal for the away side will increase the pressure on Spurs, and the fans may start to get nervy, making it harder for the players to play with patience. Newcastle will have to be tight at the back, which has been difficult for them this season. I expect Tottenham to win, but it won’t be as easy as it would have been a few weeks ago as Newcastle are improving.
