The Sun

Live Blog

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Premier League LIVE SCORES: Tottenham vs Newcastle updates plus latest from Palace vs Chelsea and Man City vs West Ham

PREMIER LEAGUE action returns TODAY - and there are some huge matches taking place.

In the early kick-off, out-of-form Tottenham host Newcastle in a blockbuster tie.

The standout 3pm matches include Manchester City vs West Ham and a London derby between Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Later, Arsenal travel to the South Coast to take on Brighton in a huge clash to cap off Saturday's Premier League action.

Kick off times: 12.30pm/3pm/5.30pm GMT

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

Follow our live blog below...

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

As he whips another in, Solanke is the man on the end of it.

His header is easily saved by Dubravka.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

It loops up in the air and lands on the roof of the net.

That had Dubravka worried there.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

We are going to have ten minutes of added time, no one seems to know where they have got that from.

Not that the Spurs' fans are complaining, plenty more time to find that equaliser.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Howe brings off Isak and the striker cannot believe it.

As he takes his time coming off the referee shows him a yellow card.

Bournemouth starting XI:

Iraola opts to make few changes for the visit of Everton:

View from SunSport's Charlie Wyett in the capital

Ange Postecoglou gets booed for his decision to replace Lucas Bergvall with James Maddison.

Tottenham fans are happy to see Maddison on the pitch but believe Bergvall, who was playing well, should have stayed on the pitch.

It was a triple sub from the Aussie manager and he is trying to win the game but his team still look fragile at the back.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

As a corner is played short, Maddison checks onto his right foot and looks to bend one in the far corner.

It drops inches wide of the post, so close to a Spurs' goal.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Newcastle get everyone back to try and defend it.

Big chance for Tottenham to put The Magpies' goal under pressure but Livramento heads behind for a corner.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Son does well to keep the ball in and plays it back to Maddison.

His cross towards Solanke is headed clear by the visitors.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

The hosts need to throw more players forward in search of a goal.

Spence is penalised for a foul on Isak.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

As the ball is played forward, Isak is penalised for offside.

Tottenham need to take it up a gear or two now.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

A Newcastle goal would put this beyond the hosts you feel.

If Spurs score, we have a real game on our hands here.

Austin is down as he seemed to get winded coming to catch a cross.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

That challenge may put any planned modelling contracts on hold.

He returns to the game with both nostrils plugged with tissue.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Son, Maddison and Sarr are joining the action.

Sarr, Werner and Bergvall make way.

The home fans do not seem happy with the latter coming off.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

He looked to cut back onto his right foot in the box and was struck by the shoulder of Kulusevski.

There is blood everywhere and that could be a broken nose for the Newcastle man.

VAR has checked it and said no further action is it was accidental.

To be fair, having seen the replay, it seems the right decision.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Tonali weaves his way into the box and his shot is blocked.

It drops to an unmarked Gordon at the back who skies his shot over the bar.

What makes the miss even worse is that Isak was completely unmarked in the middle if he had squared it.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Sarr tries a shot from the edge of the box but Dubravka gets down to make a good save.

Johnson reacts quickest to the rebound but his effort from a tight angle strikes the post.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Kulusevski comes over to take it for Spurs.

He plays it short to Porro but the full-back's crossed is easily blocked.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Werner has been a passenger in the this game so far.

Gordon plays the ball into Hall in the box but his attempted cross is blocked by Spence.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

As a Tottenham attack breaks down, The Magpies pile forward.

Tonali tries a couple of efforts at goal but they are both blocked.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

It strikes the Newcastle defender and heads towards his own goal.

Dubravka comes to punch clear but is wiped out by Solanke and the referee awards a free-kick to the visitors.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Both him and Gray are rumoured to have been feeling under the weather before kick-off.

It means that Spence has now had to shift to centre-back.

TOTTENHAM'S fitness crisis has suffered another blow after manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed illness in the camp ahead of their clash with Newcastle.

Spurs have won just one of their last seven Premier League games and are languishing down in 11th place.

They are already without a host of players due to injury including Richarlison, Mikey Moore, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.

And Rodrigo Bentancur is the seventh player unavailable after being handed a one-match suspension for picking up a fifth yellow card against Wolves on Sunday.

Now even more of Postecoglou's men could be sidelined due to a sickness bug in the camp - though he has not specified which players have been affected.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday, the Australian coach said: "None of the injured ones are back yet.

"We've had a bit of an illness bug around the squad so a few were missing from training but we'll be alright."

One boost for Tottenham is the return of Djed Spence for their home game against Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.

Postecoglou has been criticised during his side's poor run of form.

And he admitted the disappointing results have had a negative impact on him.

CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Following the 2-2 draw with Wolves, he said: "It hurts me because I'm responsible ultimately. I'm the person in charge. So of course, it hurts.

"When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy.

"I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts. So of course, it hurts. It hurts immensely.

"At the same time, it's my responsibility for where we're at right now and it's my responsibility to try to get us out of it."

Newcastle are in superb form heading to North London having won their last five games in all competitions.

They sit fifth in the Premier League table, eight points clear of Tottenham.

DESTINY UDOGIE is set to miss the next two months with a hamstring injury.

The Italy star, 22, suffered the problem early in the second half of Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at home to Wolves on Sunday.

He was forced off in the 50th minute as Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou faced up to yet another of his first-choice back four to be crocked.

SunSport understands Udogie reckons it will be eight weeks before he is back playing 100 per cent.

But he does not require surgery, unlike last season when he was forced to go under the knife after damaging his left quad in training.

That ended up ending his season and ruling him out of the Euros in the summer.

Spurs have a hectic schedule of 12 games over the time period Udogie is likely to be missing.

Those include the North London Derby later this month, both Carabao Cup semi-final legs against Liverpool - as well as a possible banana-skin FA Cup third round tie at Tamworth.

Postecoglou already has No1 goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario out with a fractured ankle.

While centre-backs Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies are also injured.

Udogie’s good mate Djed Spence returns from suspension this week and will likely deputise at left-back against Newcastle on Saturday.

Postecoglou’s squad has been hit by a large quantity of hamstring injuries during the Australian’s time in charge, such as to Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Van de Ven this season.

Given that record was similar at his previous clubs, it has been mooted that the intensity the Australian wants his players to train and play at is a contributing factor.

But Udogie, who missed September’s Europa League win at Ferencvaros with another hamstring injury, is understood to think his current issue is down to bad luck.

FANS have spotted the moment Son Heung-min's South Korea team-mate Hwang Hee-chan told keeper Jose Sa which way to dive for his penalty.

Wolves shot-stopper Sa, 31, saved Son's spot kick in the 43rd minute of their 2-2 draw at Spurs on Sunday.

With the score level at 1-1 at the time of the penalty - which was awarded after Brennan Johnson was brought down - the Tottenham captain took his time before stepping up.

And as he composed himself, fans could see Wolves striker Hwang, 28, pointing for Sa to dive to his right - as Spurs defender Radu Dragusin tried to get in front of him.

But Portuguese keeper Sa took the advice and it paid off as he thwarted the South Korean, who plays with Hwang at international level.

Reacting to Hwang's gesture one fan said: "Hwang Hee-chan did Sonny DIRTY!"

While another added: "It was Hwang who told Jose Sa that Son would shoot in that direction 😂."

And a third replied: "Radu Dragusin tried his best to stop him."

Tottenham went in front just two minutes after the penalty miss through Johnson.

But Jorgen Strand Larsen's late equaliser piled more pressure on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.

CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

It takes Tottenham's run to one win in seven Premier League games.

They are languishing in 11th in the table, seven points adrift of Manchester City in fifth.

But they are in the Carabao Cup semi-finals where they will play Liverpool - with the first leg taking place on January 8.

JAMES MADDISON has hit back at a fan who criticised him for attending the World Darts Championship last night.

The Tottenham star, 28, came off the bench as his side drew 2-2 with Wolves on Sunday afternoon.

After the game he headed to Alexandra Palace to take in the darts.

Alongside Brennan Johnson, who scored in Sunday's match, Maddison watched on as Peter Wright upset reigning champion Luke Humphries.

The Official PDC Instagram account posted snaps of Maddison and Johnson in attendance.

They captioned it: "From football to the darts!"

One account, named "spursynews" took exception to Maddison and Johnson's outing.

They commented: "U taking the p***? The form were in and U go to the darts?? Unacceptable."

Maddison swiftly shrugged off the criticism.

He hit back, alongside a laughing emoji: "shut up u wally."

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Maddison has been a substitute in Tottenham's last two games.

The England international replaced Johnson on 64 minutes yesterday, but could not help Spurs see out the win.

He has scored eight goals in 19 Premier League appearances this season, also laying on four assists.

Tottenham have collected just one win in their last seven games, and are winless at home in their last five in the league.

Their slump has seen them fall to 11th in the table, one point closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

After the draw with Wolves, boss Ange Postecoglou said: "It hurts me because I'm responsible ultimately. I'm the person in charge. So of course it hurts.

Follow all the action from the World Darts Championship as it happens with SunSport's LIVE blog

"When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think today they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy, which I don't even know where they got from.

"I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts.

"It hurts immensely. At the same time it's my responsibility for where we're at right now and it's my responsibility to try to get us out of it."

Following a busy period, Spurs players have been given Monday and Tuesday off.

JAMES MADDISON and Brennan Johnson were spotted enjoying the darts at Ally Pally just hours after Tottenham's 2-2 draw with Wolves.

Ange Postecoglou's men conceded a late equaliser in North London, before the Australian coach confirmed his struggling stars were "hurting".

The Spurs players have been given Monday and Tuesday off to recover from a demanding Christmas period - which has seen them play 10 games since November 28.

And Maddison and Johnson - who scored Spurs' second goal against the relegation battlers - shrugged off their disappointment to head to the darts to watch the likes of Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright.

The pair could be seen smiling from their tables as they took in the raucous Ally Pally atmosphere.

Maddison, 28, is known as a big fan of the sport - and often mimes throwing a dart after scoring a goal.

But it has been a difficult time for Spurs following just one win in seven Premier League games.

After the match, Postecoglou said: "It hurts me because I'm responsible ultimately. I'm the person in charge. So of course it hurts.

"When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think today they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy, which I don't even know where they got from.

"I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts.

CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

"It hurts immensely. At the same time it's my responsibility for where we're at right now and it's my responsibility to try to get us out of it."

The Spurs boss also explained why he is giving the players two days off.

Follow all the action from the World Darts Championship as it happens with SunSport's LIVE blog

He added: "It was always planned. We knew this is the first week where we don't have a midweek game, so I think the whole group probably needs a couple of days just to get away from everything and recover.

"It'll do them good to have a couple of days to themselves with their families and give them a chance to recover mentally as much as physically."

Spurs have now failed to win at home in their last five league games - an unwanted feat not managed since 2008.

While seven wins in 19 league games means they are a point nearer to the relegation zone than they are to the top four.

Yet Postecoglou still believes his side can achieve something in the league this season.

The Aussie, whose team are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and still in Europe, added: "I just feel that at some point we'll get a relatively healthy squad and when we do that we'll be able to perform at a high level consistently and we've already shown this year we can beat anyone.

"There's a chance there you can go on a run.

"But at the moment that's secondary to the first bit, we have to try to get some support for the players - both mentally and physically and in terms of numbers to give them the opportunity to play at their best."

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur is now banned for Saturday’s hosting of Newcastle after a needless foul in stoppage time on Rodrigo Gomes earned him his fifth yellow card of the season.

Had he waited a week, the cautions picked up in the first half of the campaign would have been wiped.

Postecoglou added: "It was an unfortunate moment, didn't really need to happen and I'd much rather he didn't make that tackle and was available for the next game.

"The players are obviously hurting, they want to turn this around and it's not for the want of trying."

TOTTENHAM pair Rodrigo Bentancur and Dominic Solanke left fans in stitches after colliding in the box as they lined up to shoot during their 2-2 draw with Wolves.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou came into his side's clash with Wolves under huge pressure following back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

They kicked off in the bottom half of the Premier League table with nine defeats from 18 games.

And things got even bleaker for fans of the North London side when Hwang Hee-chan fired in to give the visitors the lead.

Bentancur levelled with a header from a corner, before the calamitous incident occurred between the Uruguayan and Solanke.

As the ball rolled across the box they both ran onto it and took each other out.

Fortunately, the flag went up for offside in the build-up.

But that did not stop fans from making fun of the hapless moment.

One said: "Solanke shoving Bentancur off the ball (or was it the other way around?) is the most Spursy thing I've ever seen."

Another added: "That Bentancur-Solanke collision in the box sums up our whole season lmao."

CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

A third replied: "If you could describe SPURS in a clip... Solanke and Bentancur going for the same ball 😂."

While a fourth responded: "The way Solanke and Bentancur tackled each other 😭😭😭 best comedy show on earth."

Spurs went in front through Brennan Johnson but then conceded late on through Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Postecoglou really needed a win here after a run of just one victory in six league games had left his injury-hit side languishing in mid-table.

He looked like he might have it after goals from Bentancur and Johnson before half-time overturned Hwang's opener.

But Strand Larsen came to the rescue to preserve Vitor Pereira’s unbeaten record since taking over.

And it left Postecoglou, whose side were booed at full-time, looking on shaky ground as chairman Daniel Levy watched from the stands.

Pereira has had such a quick impact at Wolves since succeeding Gary O’Neil just before Christmas that the away fans were singing his name before kick-off.

They were belting it out after seven minutes though when Hwang broke the deadlock.

The South Korean was starting his first league game since August as a reward for his killer strike against Manchester United on Boxing Day.

His strike showed no signs of rustiness though as Rayan Ait-Nouri rolled a free-kick off to the forward on the edge of the area and Hwang did the rest, curling beautifully in off the post.

Spurs were trying to claim a foul on Johnson from Santiago Bueno in the build-up but it looked an optimistic claim at best.

Matheus Cunha, who had won the set-piece in the first place, has been Wolves’ star man in a dreary campaign.

And the Brazilian showed just why he is being coveted by the likes of Arsenal with some Champions League-quality tricks and flicks throughout the first half.

Spurs hit back five minutes later though with a corner routine that had worked a charm against Ipswich last month, even if it was overlooked by Spurs losing that game.

Just as they did against the Tractor Boys, Pedro Porro sent in the delivery to the near post where Rodrigo Bentancur rose highest to crash home a header.

Spurs were not playing well and yet they were still creating chances.

Radu Dragusin probably should have levelled with a header from another Porro corner that whistled the wrong side of the post.

Yves Bissouma had a blast over the bar when Kulusevski neatly laid it off to him.

While there was a farcical moment when Solanke and Bentancur clattered into each other trying to latch onto the same cutback from Kulusevski, who was offside anyway.

Son Heung-min has looked out of sorts for some time now given the amazing service he has given Spurs over the last ten years.

He was anonymous here until out of nowhere, he was presented with a golden chance to put Spurs ahead.

Johnson had been needlessly tripped by Andre in the box as tried to latch onto Kulusevsi’s lock-picking pass.

Son picked up the ball as the penalty-taker but just like Erling Haaland against Everton last week, the master goal-scorer looked so short of confidence that you feared a miss was coming.

So it proved as his tame effort to Jose Sa’s right was repelled by the Wanderers stopper.

Postecoglou must have felt this is just how things are going for him right now.

But then Johnson offered him a reprieve in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.

The Welshman played a one-two with the excellent Kulusevski - who at times seemed to be carrying Spurs - and then smartly converted the return pass for 2-1.

Wolves were dealt a surprise blow when Cunha was part of a double-sub at half-time and was spotted soon after with ice under his left knee.

While Postecoglou surely could not believe his luck when Destiny Udogie went down with a hamstring injury, given how decimated his defence already was.

The Italian gingerly walked off to be replaced by the lesser-spotted Sergio Reguilon, who was making his first league appearance for Spurs since April 2022.

Since then he has been out on loan at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford.

The smart money is on him being shipped out permanently next month too, although Spurs may have to assess the damage to Udogie first.

Both sides looked tired and short of quality in a clunky second half.

Spurs were desperately trying to see it out but then on 87 minutes, Rayan Ait-Nouri slipped in sub Strand Larsen who belted the ball past Fraser Forster high into the roof of the net.

Spurs old-boy Matt Doherty almost nicked all three points too for the visitors but his header was repelled by Forster.

But Strand Larsen’s strike was enough of a hammer blow to Postecoglou - who also saw Bentancur pick up a fifth yellow of the season with a wild late tackle on Rodrigo Gomes, meaning he is now suspended for Newcastle.

When it rains, it pours.

©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. View our online Press Pack. For other inquiries, Contact Us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/

WOLVES have Sunderland No 1 Anthony Patterson on their radar again in case they lose one of their own keepers at Molineux.

Portugal ace Jose Sa is back in the Wanderers side under new boss Vitor Pereira, with previous first-pick Sam Johnstone shocked to be dumped to the bench.

That situation is unlikely to continue so the Midlands outfit have reopened their files on Black Cats’ Patterson, 24, who is also an option for Spurs.

Patterson, however, won't come cheap as he inked a new long-term deal at the Stadium of Light last September.

After putting pen to paper, he said: "You can see the trajectory the club is on and it's an exciting time to be here.

"It's obviously an absolute dream to come through the academy to where I am now.

"When you first join the club at the age of 10, you don't ever think too much about actually playing for Sunderland."

Black Cats Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said of the academy graduate: "He's establishing himself as one of the best young English goalkeepers.

"We have confidence in him and his ability to further improve, and equally he has confidence in us, which I feel is important.

"As an academy graduate, we couldn't be happier for Anthony.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

"And his journey so far is a testament to the work undertaken by him and so many staff over a significant period of time."

Patterson has conceded only 14 league goals so far this season, keeping seven clean sheets for the Black Cats.

HE would never admit it, but Nuno Espirito Santo must have particularly enjoyed this one.

The tight-lipped Portuguese suffered a miserably short spell as Spurs boss back in 2021, getting the sack after just 17 games.

But it has been a wholly joyful experience at the City Ground for Nuno, whose victory here over his former side sent Nottingham Forest into third.

Current Tottenham incumbent Ange Postecoglou, in contrast, had to suffer chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” after a ninth league loss of the campaign.

That seems premature given both the Aussie’s crippling injury list - with Radu Dragusin forced off late in this defeat - and how his side are faring in the cups.

But many more of these, and you would start to fear for the 59-year-old, who saw Forest old-boy Djed Spence sent off in stoppage time.

Having said that, there is no shame in losing to Forest this term - even if Nuno being at the helm is an extra sickener for Spurs fans.

This is the only side to have beaten near-perfect Liverpool this season and who are now on a run of four straight wins in the league.

Champions League qualification is becoming less and less of a pipe dream with every passing victory for the former European Cup winners.

Few fans would be expecting it, of course.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

But they are certainly in the picture, and rightfully so on this evidence, having prevented the league’s top-scorers from netting and moving ELEVEN points above them in the process.

Forest looked every bit the hard-to-beat, organised outfit that Nuno has turned them into throughout the game.

They had bite in midfield - you always will with Ryan Yates - and a threat on the counter thanks to speed merchants Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga on the flanks.

It is a formula that is becoming increasingly reliable, similar to the one Nuno produced at Wolves.

As for Postecgolou’s box-of-chocolates Spurs, there really is no telling which version of them you are going to get from match to match.

One thing you can bank on though is that for all their exciting attacking play, they will always give up chances.

Particularly with the patched-up defence Postecoglou is having to put out over this festive period, including Spence starting his fourth game in a row, having waited two-and-a-half years to be included in a Spurs' starting line-up.

Tottenham signed the 24-year-old from Middlesbrough in 2022, but it was because of his stellar form on loan at Forest in their promotion-winning Championship campaign.

The home fans referenced that with a chant of “You used to play for a big club” as Spence waited to take an early throw.

While Brennan Johnson, who joined Spurs from the Tricky Trees last year for £47.5million and back starting here, suffered some pantomime-villain boos.

Spurs were by no means poor in the first 45 here, but were also nowhere near their swash-buckling best.

Son Heung-min should have teed up an open Johnson inside the first five minutes but instead weakly shot straight at Matz Sels.

Hardman Yates clattered into Son five minutes late and copped his fifth yellow of the season - a surprisingly low amount but one that will see him suspended for Sunday’s trip to Everton.

The two teams traded half-chances and long-rangers before Elanga broke the deadlock on 29 minutes.

It was Spence who lost the ball, allowing Forest to break through Morgan Gibbs-White, who carried the ball downfield and then played a defence-splitting ball through for Elanga.

The rapid Swede had the composure to match his pace as he slotted round the advancing Fraser Forster to complete a classic Nuno counter.

It prompted the sacking chants towards Postecoglou from the standing section of the Peter Taylor Stand, who also aimed a “You’re just a fat Aussie b***ard” taunt at the Spurs chief.

Postecoglou was facing up to a ninth league defeat before the New Year.

His side would have gone in level had Johnson managed to beat Sels just before the break, but once again the ex-Newcastle stopper produced a top stop.

That theme continued after the break when on 57 minutes, Johnson looked all the world as if he would score after ghosting in with a clever flick, but Sels proved his nemesis again.

Spurs had few other chances, truth be told, and then saw Spence go in injury time after a foul on sub Jota Silva earned him a second yellow.

Spurs had not lost on Boxing Day since 2003, when ‘Mad World’ by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules was top of the charts - a fitting theme to the crazy heights Nuno’s Forest are scaling this season.