Top four rivals Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur will face each other at St. James’ Park this Sunday.
Both teams are fighting for a place in next season’s Champions League and will be desperate for three points, which could completely change the direction of the top-four race.
The hosts come into this tie ahead of their rivals in the race, winning three points more than the visitors, with a game less. They currently sit in fourth position after an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Aston Villa last time.
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That loss was just the second time the Magpies had conceded three times in a PL game this term, with manager Eddie Howe admitting his side were ‘off it in every discipline’.
Returning to Tyneside may be the perfect way to refocus his side’s energy then, as the only side to beat Newcastle on their own turf in the PL since the start of 2022 is Liverpool (two times). Moreover, they have conceded just nine league goals at St James’ all season–only Manchester United (8) has conceded less at home this season.
Meanwhile, Tottenham will consider this an opportunity to rekindle their fading dreams of a top-four finish. The North London club missed the chance to draw level with Newcastle last time as they were beaten 3-2 by relegation candidates Bournemouth.
Interim boss Cristian Stellini bemoaned that Spurs’ poor form ‘isn’t a tactical problem, but individual mistakes’. The Italian has every right to be livid about his side’s leaky defence, which has conceded 45 goals this season–the second-highest total among sides currently in the top-15 of the PL table.
They will also travel to Tyneside in terrible away form, having won none of their last four league road trips (D2, L2).
But given that they are unbeaten on their last four trips to Newcastle, scoring at least twice in each of those meetings (W3, D1), they will fancy their chances of snatching a result here.Click here to get accurate bet tips today.
