Tottenham Hotspur will endeavor to solidify their grip on a top four spot in the Premier League, as they take on a decent Newcastle United side in the Premier League this weekend.
Spurs managed to get the better off Nottingham Forest last weekend and this coincided with Aston Villa dropping a couple of points, giving Ange Postecoglou‘s men the chance to get their noses ahead in the race for the top four. A win against the Magpies will only go further in strengthening their case for the same.
Newcastle on the other hand, in a season marred by injuries and off-field controversies, still manage to find themselves in an impressive eighth place in the Premier League. Whilst it is a drop down in standards from the flying season they had last time around, their campaign has to be analyzed with an asterisk mark.
Both teams have momentum on their side coming into this game with a win. Tottenham will be quietly confident of getting a favourable result although it must be said that the Magpies have a very good record at home this season. In fact, both these teams have the unique distinction of being the only two to have scored goals in every single home game this season.
DATE & TIME:
April 13, 2024, 12:30pm UK time
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Tim Robinson.
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn.
Fourth official: Oliver Langford.
VAR: Stuart Attwell.
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.
TEAM NEWS:
Manor Solomon, Ryan Sessegnon and Fraser Forster are all long-term absentees for Ange Postecoglou. Richarlison missed the previous game and a late call is expected to be taken on his availability for this game. Other than this, the Australian tactician is expected to have his entire roster to pick from, a luxury he has not been afforded that often this campaign.
Whilst the defence and attack fairly picks itself, it’s anyone’s guess as to who Postecoglou will field in midfield, having fielded as many as 19 combination already this season. Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma started the last game but it will be a huge surprise if we don’t see Rodrigo Bentancur from the start in this game.
Newcastle have a long injury list for this game including Joelinton (thigh) – who signed a new long-term contract on Thursday – Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both ACL), Lewis Miley (back), Kieran Trippier (calf), Nick Pope (shoulder), Valentino Livramento (ankle) and Miguel Almiron (knee).
Howe though would be used to having to deal with this kind of an injury list throughout this season. He will be hoping for this season to come to a close so that he can wipe the slate clean and start afresh again.
PREDICTED LINEUPS:
Newcastle United: (4-3-3): Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Anderson; Barnes, Isak, Gordon
Tottenham Hotspur: (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Bissouma; Johnson, Maddison, Werner; Son
