Tottenham Hotspur needed late goals to see off Aston Villa on the opening weekend of this league season, but they did pretty well to hang on to a point on their trip to Etihad last weekend. Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura’s goals helped Spurs hold the champions to a 2-2 draw and they will now look to continue their run with a win over Newcastle United this weekend.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men welcome The Magpies to the capital city and will look to extend their winning run against the Tyneside outfit to five league games. Steve Bruce’s side have lost both their games this season, scoring just once and conceding four so far this campaign.
With their backs to the wall, they are expected to test Spurs but the hosts will be firm favourites going into this clash.
Team News
Pochettino revealed that midfielder Tanguy Ndombele picked up a minor injury in training and ruled him out of this game. Juan Foyth and Ryan Sessegnon continue their rehabilitation but Spurs will welcome Heung Min-Son back into the squad after the Korean missed the last two games serving a suspension he had carried over from last season.
Dele Alli is back in training although a start does not seem to be on the cards while Giovani Lo Celso is still weeks away from action having joined the club late in the window.
PREDICTED TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LINEUP vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Defence
Hugo Lloris made a number of decent saves against Manchester City. He was a busy man that night but might have a rather sedate evening against Newcastle United this weekend. He will have a centre-back pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez in front of him, both of who started the last two games as well for Pochettino.
Spurs should stick with Kyle Walker-Peters at right back and Danny Rose at left-back for this game. The likes of Joelinton and Miguel Almiron need to be at their best to test this backline on Sunday.
Midfield
The absence of Ndombele could force Pochettino to stick with a midfield duo of Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks.
With contrast playing styles, the duo complements each other well and will hope to push the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden deep into Newcastle’s half, maintaining pressure on the visitors all game.
Attack
Christian Eriksen started the previous game on the left-wing. He was not too effective and could be pushed on to the other flank, giving Heung Min-Son his first start of the campaign. The winger was in superb form last season and could be a danger man for The Magpies this weekend.
The Dane is expected to flit across the attacking line though and his movement and positional interchange with his fellow attackers is expected to cause a whole lot of trouble for the visitors.
Erik Lamela, who has been the pick of the players for Pochettino so far this campaign, deserves to keep his place in the no.10 role. Harry Kane, who has already opened his account this season, will hope to get the better of the Newcastle backline consisting of the likes of Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett.
Here is how they might line up:
