Two top four hopefuls meet in north London on Saturday but Tottenham and Newcastle are heading in completely different directions.
WATCH — Tottenham v Newcastle
Here’s everything you need.
How to watch Tottenham vs Newcastle live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday (January 4)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Tottenham vs Newcastle score: 1-2
Solanke 4'; Gordon 6', 38'
Tottenham vs Newcastle live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Half time: Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle
It all started so well for Spurs with Solanke’s early goal but Newcastle are ahead and they deserve it. Gordon’s equalizer after a Joelinton handball had Spurs fuming, but VAR didn’t overturn it as the Brazilian’s arm was in a ‘natural position’ and then it was all Newcastle. Isak tapped home before the break and right now it’s all Newcastle against this injury and illness hit Spurs side. Big second half coming up. Can Tottenham find some energy from the bench? Bissouma, Maddison and Son are all surely going to come on soon.
Isak taps home at the back post! — Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle
That goal was coming and Newcastle have the lead. Jacob Murphy, who has been whipping in some great crosses, sends in another and it flicks off Dragusin and then Isak gets a faint touch from close range to put Newcastle ahead. They’re deservedly ahead.
Newcastle looking very dangerous
Spurs are getting tired and Newcastle are looking very dangerous on the counter. Isak and Gordon in particular are causing big problems with their pace and direct running. Spurs hanging on as we approach half time.
Austin makes a big save to deny Gordon
Anthony Gordon is in again down the left and this time he goes for goal at the near post but Brandon Austin gets down well to save. Very open game. Which is exactly as we expected.
Explanation for Newcastle’s goal being allowed after VAR check
Okay, so the Premier League have released the reasoning for Newcastle’s goal being allowed despite a handball from Joelinton. VAR confirmed it was a goal as Joelinton’s arm was “by his side, in a natural position and the contact was accidental” as the ball then dropped to Guimaraes to set up Gordon to score.
Gordon equalizes controversially right away! — Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle
Well, well, well. Bergvall plays the ball and it hits Joelinton’s arm. The ball then drops to Guimaraes who finds Gordon and he slots home superbly across goal. VAR checked the goal for a handball on Joelinton, but said he had his hand down by his side in a natural position. Spurs are not happy. But Newcastle are level.
What a diving header from Solanke! — Tottenham 1-0 Newcastle
Brilliant early cross from Porro and that is some diving header from Solanke to guide it back across goal. Solanke just got on the wrong side of Botman. Perfect start for injury and illness hit Spurs less than four minutes in. Ange Postecoglou loved that.
Surprising team news for Spurs, and a boost for Newcastle
Goalkeeper Brandon Austin makes his first ever appearance for Tottenham with Fraser Forster not in the squad as a sickness bug has impacted him, and the squad. That’s all amid reports Spurs are set to sign Slavia Prague goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Heung-min Son is on the bench with Timo Werner starting on the left, while youngster Bergvall gets a start in midfield. For Newcastle, Dutch center back Sven Botman is back fit and starts which is a massive boost.
Tottenham lineup
Austin; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Kulusevski, Werner; Solanke
Newcastle lineup
Dubravka; Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Tottenham team news, focus
There have been so many defensive injuries for Spurs, who are missing their goalkeeper and three of their back four, and what team could cope with that? Bentancur is suspended for this game too, so Ange will have to dig even deeper into his squad to find a solution in midfield. His attacking unit is largely intact but Spurs look so vulnerable at the back. They can’t rely on Kulusevski, Maddison, Son, Johnson and Solanke to do it all.
OUT: Rodrigo Bentancur (suspension), Destiny Udogie (thigh), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Cristian Romero (quad), Guglielmo Vicario (fractured ankle - MORE), Richarlison (thigh), Wilson Odobert (thigh), Ben Davies (thigh), Mikey Moore (illness) | QUESTIONABLE: Radu Dragusin (ankle)
Newcastle team news, focus
The Magpies are coping with some big injury absentees with goalkeeper Pope still out but Dubravka has stood in well. Livramento and Trippier are both struggling so there could be an issue at right back, while Botman is close to a return which is a huge boost. Isak, Gordon, Murphy, Guimaraes, Joelinton and Tonali pick themselves at the moment as Newcastle’s side is very settled.
OUT: Nick Pope (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder), Callum Wilson (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Fabian Schar (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Sven Botman (knee)
Tottenham vs Newcastle prediction
Anything other than an away win would be very surprising. Newcastle’s attack is firing and Spurs can barely put any defenders or midfielders out there. Tottenham 1-3 Newcastle.
Tottenham vs Newcastle preview
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have won one of their last seven Premier League games as they coughed up a lead late on at home against Wolves last time out to draw 2-2. Spurs have been hit with so many injuries, especially in defense, and Postecoglou is trying his best to put a brave face on things but they’re now 11 points off the top four and sit in the bottom half of the table after a dreadful run of results.