**Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United Headed for Showdown at St James’ Park**
Both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have accumulated four points from their opening two Premier League matches as they prepare for their clash at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Tottenham secured their first win of the season with a 4-0 victory over Everton last weekend, following a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Leicester City on the opening day. Meanwhile, Newcastle drew 1-1 with Bournemouth after a 1-0 win against Southampton in their season opener, despite being reduced to ten men.
With both teams aiming for a top-four finish, this game is expected to be highly competitive. Paul Merson predicts Newcastle will secure an important home win to build on their strong start. While he praised Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Everton as “brilliant,” Merson expressed concerns about Spurs’ away form.
“Tottenham had an excellent result with their 4-0 win against Everton, but I’m backing Newcastle to win this match,” Merson wrote in his Sportskeeda column. “This will be a significant test for Spurs, especially away from home. Historically, Tottenham has struggled in this fixture on the road, so it’s a big psychological challenge for them.”
Merson also noted Tottenham’s difficulties in the second half against Leicester and believes the charged atmosphere at St James’ Park will help Newcastle secure a 2-1 victory. “The fans at St James’ Park will be highly motivated for this game,” he added. “If Tottenham can come through this test, it will be a major achievement for them. Their second-half performance against Leicester was concerning, which is why I believe Newcastle could win.”
**Injury Concerns for Both Teams**
Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are injured, though Rodrigo Bentancur is back in contention. Newcastle will be missing Callum Wilson and Lewis Miley, while Joe Willock is racing against time to recover from an injury sustained in the Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest. Sandro Tonali’s return, following a ten-month suspension, is a significant boost for Eddie Howe’s squad.
Despite injury concerns, both teams have sufficient quality to ensure a competitive match.
