Newcastle vs Tottenham: Can Spurs move closer to the Premier League's top 5?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Is Newcastle's inconsistent season reaching a turning point?
It has been an inconsistent season for Newcastle United in the Premier League. More than that, life has been difficult as they find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the league standings.
For a side that secured a UEFA Champions League spot by finishing in fifth place in the previous campaign, their performance has been nothing but a headache for the disgruntled fanbase.
Currently, four points separate the Magpies from the European football spots heading into matchday 12 - the very same place they finished in last season. Victory in this impending encounter could see that point gap cut to just one.
For head coach Eddie Howe, that should ease up some of the pressure ramping up on him; however, two wins in succession in the Premier League present a kairotic moment in progression down the line.
A trip to Merseyside to face Everton saw them cruise to a commanding 4-1 victory. Their win was well-documented as they became the second visiting team to leave Hill Dickinson Stadium unscathed.
Frank under the microscope as Spurs aim for the top five
Thomas Frank arrived at North London during the summer, replacing former head coach Ange Postecoglou in the dugout. It was a promising start to life at first for Frank, losing just one of his 11 competitive matches (W6, D4) before things took a turn for the worse.
With two wins in 10 matches in all competitions, the 52-year-old gaffer is under huge pressure, with some football pundits convinced that the job is too big for him to handle.
In under a week, results have not gone Spurs' way. First, it was a one-sided North London derby against Arsenal, which resulted in a 4-1 defeat at Emirates Stadium, followed by a 5-3 mauling at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League (league phase).
Lastly, over the weekend, they succumbed to a narrow 2-1 home league defeat against Fulham, in which goalie Guglielmo Vicario was the scapegoat. All these results are why the present man in charge of the team is facing growing criticism.
Despite this, there's still light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Lilywhites turning over a new leaf. In the Premier League standings, they sit in 12th place with 18 points, four points behind the top five.
They might break into that bracket with four fixtures remaining. Their toughest matchup will be against Liverpool on 20th December at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which will be their final league fixture before Christmas.
Head-to-Head Record: Who has the edge?
The previous meeting between these two sides in the Premier League saw Newcastle United come out on top in a 2-1 away victory. Anthony Gordon and the departed Alexander Isak were on target for the visitors, while Dominic Solanke opened the scoring for the hosts. Can Spurs exact revenge this Tuesday when the two sides clash at St James' Park? Find out what our betting experts have to say in our Newcastle vs Tottenham prediction for more insights.
Newcastle United and Spurs head-to-head history:
- Meetings: 66
- Newcastle United wins: 29
- Tottenham Hotspur wins: 27
- Draws: 10
- Newcastle United goals: 104
- Tottenham Hotspur goals: 102
Matchup to watch: Guimaraes vs. Richarlson
Bruno Guimaraes has been delivering standout performances for Newcastle United this season and could be key to his team making it three Premier League wins in a row this Tuesday. The 28-year-old can play as a deep-lying midfielder or higher up in a central midfield two or three. He has been influential to the team's success this season by being directly involved in five goal involvements, scoring three goals, and providing two assists.
Richarlson can be devastating when he gets into scoring positions. This season, he has scored five goals and is the team's top goalscorer. In fact, he has been involved in 6 goals in 10 league appearances for Spurs. If there is anyone to keep an eye out for, it's the Brazilian technician!
