A huge six-pointer in the fight for Champions League football takes place today at St James’ Park with Spurs travelling to Tyneside looking to prove their top-four bid is still alive.
The chances of Tottenham’s tumultuous season still ending in some reasonable form of success very much depend on a result against the Magpies, who sit three points clear in fourth place and with a game in hand. With only two wins in eight games, Cristian Stellini’s side are entering last-chance saloon territory ahead of a particularly tricky run-in.
Newcastle have been far from perfect themselves however, suffering a significant defeat at Aston Villa a week ago to put an end to a five-game winning streak. The line-ups have been revealed with a surprise change in formation for Spurs. Follow Newcastle vs Tottenham LIVE via Standard Sport’s matchday blog below, featuring expert analysis from our reporter Dan Kilpatrick!
Live updates
Heung-min Son speaks to Sky Sports after reaching 100 Premier League goals last week
“It means a lot, it’s a huge achievement. I never thought I’d reach 100 goals when I joined this amazing league.
“It’s a big honour, I hope I can continue to score.
“We can talk all season about my form but I’m still working hard to be in top form.”
Newcastle vs Tottenham: Video preview
A big day in the Premier League
A battle for the top four here in the north east with West Ham taking on Bournemouth in a south coast relegation scrap.
Newcastle vs Tottenham: Countdown to kick-off
The warm-ups are in full swing at St James’ Park with kick-off in just under half an hour’s time!
Daniel Levy defends Spurs record
During the week, Daniel Levy spoke out on a number of topics in a bid to reassure Tottenham fans about his role at the club.
“Am I happy we have not won more than one trophy in the last 15 years? Absolutely not,” he wrote. “But I also think we have had some fantastic times.
“We have been in the Champions League a number of times. And despite the fact I feel sick that there is a club in north London that is higher than us at this moment in time, if I look back over the last five years we have also been above them. That is what happens.”
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Danny Rose is keen to get his boots back on!
Eddie Howe to Sky Sports
“We have to get the crowd in the game from minute one and set our intentions. We’ve done that really well here and the crowd has responded like a 12th man, it’s pivotal.
“At this stage of the season, to fundamentally change tactically what’s brought us a lot of success would be a mistake.
“That doesn’t meant we can’t go to [a two-man attack] in the future – currently this is too big a game to change the team.”
Sean Longstaff returns for Newcastle
One change in the hosts’ team sees Sean Longstaff replace Anthony Gordon following the 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa, adding a bit of muscle in the midfield.
Miguel Almiron is fit for the bench after injury.
Formation change for Spurs
Cristian Stellini moves Tottenham to a four-man backline with Clement Lenglet and Ben Davies fit for only the bench.
That means Pape Matar Sarr comes into the midfield for the Frenchman in the only personnel change since last week.
Your home team line-up
Newcastle XI: Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Joelinton.
Subs: Dubravka, Lascelles, Gordon, Wilson, Ritchie, Targett, Manquillo, Almiron, Anderson.
