Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle United: match preview, projected lineups, predictions, and how to watch

Tottenham Hotspur control their own destiny for a third place finish, but oh man does it feel like we are a mountain away from that feat. Spurs’ loss coupled with Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool provided Tottenham with a clear path to third, but it also meant that even one slip-up could see both of those teams finish ahead of the lilywhites. Never a dull moment supporting this club.

The good news is that the last two games will be played in the temporary and comfortable confines of Wembley, the bad news is that while Newcastle and Leicester aren’t Manchester City or Juventus, they are firmly in the top half of the Premier League table and won’t be pushovers. Of course, when you lose to twentieth place and newly relegated West Bromwich Albion, who is a walk in the park?

Newcastle reside in the tenth spot in the Premier League table, but have been even worse that Tottenham Hotspur over the last few weeks — winless in three encounters against Everton, West Brom, and Watford. Those results feel like the towel is thrown in, hopefully that is the case.

Newcastle’s defense is led by potential Spurs target Jamaal Lascelles who has made thirty-three appearances for the club and has been an exceptional center-back for Newcastle, while being one of the league’s most standout defenders this year. USMNT and ex-Spur Deandre Yedlin has also had a career year down the right flank for the Magpies.

The attack is spearheaded by Ayoze Perez who has quietly been one of the better strikers in the Premier League over the past few years when healthy. The guy has a fantastic touch, is great in tight spaces, and has creativity and flair to boot. The pacy Dwight Gayle and Matt Richie have had strong campaigns too, not to mention the presence of Jonjo Shelvey in the center of the park to do his best Charlie Adam impression and kick people indiscriminately.

On paper Newcastle can play, but will they have the ambition to put forth a driving effort for ninety minutes? More importantly can Spurs kick the gnawing narrative that they are destined to fold? We will see this afternoon.

How to Watch

Date/time: Wednesday May 9th, 2018, 8:00 p.m. (UK), 3:00 p.m. ET (USA)
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, UK
Official: Neil Swarbrick
TV: NBC Sports Gold, BBC Radio (UK), Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet World, Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Optus Sport (Australia), other listings at livesoccertv.com
Streaming: NBC Sports Live Extra (USA)
Radio: Audio streamed at tottenhamhotspur.com, also often at BBC Radio London,BBC Radio 5 Live, and TalkSport

Projected Lineup

Eric Dier, Mousa Dembélé, and Harry Winks are all sidelined. Poch threw a curveball and actually played Toby Alderweireld, which makes the handling of that whole situation even more peculiar and makes Spurs formation for Newcastle more of a question mark.

Menno talked about potential lineups here and I more or less agree with him. I would *love* to see Christian Eriksen play in midfield with Victor Wanyama to get Lamela or Lucas on the pitch, but that doesn’t seem like something Pochettino would do. Plugging Moussa Sissoko into Moose’s spot seems much more likely. Lets really, really, really, really hope that doesn’t happen.

My lineup then is a back four of Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, and Davies, with a double pivot of Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko. The attacking band will be the slumping Heung Min-Son, along with Dele and Eriksen. Harry Kane will start up top.

Prediction League

Nobody picked a Spurs loss. Everything remains the same. Congrats, Dustin, the masthead hopes you’re happy.

Dustin Menno: Dammit, I guess I have to be the optimistic one. I refuse to believe we’re going to bottle this at home. 3-0 Spurs and screw all y’all.

Matthew Pachniuk: 2-1 Spurs.

GN Punk: Hot take: Drop Kane. Forecast for bedwetting by Spurs’ twitter: 100%. Spurs 2-1.

Pardeep Cattry: It will not be easy, but Spurs will actually get those three points. Tottenham 2-1.

Skipjack: We have no valid currency. 5-0 Newcastle.

Jake Meador: I’m extremely scared of all our remaining games and feel like any prediction I make will jinx us.

Earl of Shoop: The stripes or whatever they’re called overcome a ridiculous Mitrović red card to embarrass us even though they have nothing to play for. Newcastle 5-1.

Ed F: Darkest timeline is active, 1-0 Newcastle.

Salmon Chase: I’ll be at Reactors Comedy Club in West Chester PA on June 15th-16th, and at the Germantown Esspresson Bar in Philadelphia PA May 12th. Unrelated to that... we are getting relegated! Kane should take the game off so we can go Son up top then Eriksen Dele and Lucas in behind. By the way while Kane is resting do you know where he will be? Watching me at the Good Good Comedy Theater in Philadelphia pa with my god damn mother on May 19th 7pm showtime. 2-1 Spurs.

Alex Greenberg: I think we might actually be doing this again. Newcastle 2-0.

Nathan Giannini: We’re playing Newcastle in an end-of-season game to secure league position we should have wrapped up already but frittered away with a stupid result against West Brom and now our local rivals are breathing down our necks... what could go wrong? Spurs lose 2-1

Joel Wertheimer: Spurs 1, Newcastle 1 but Chelsea lose so we secure top 4 and all the narratives are funny

Joe Patrick: Two teams on the beach = 1-1 fml.

Bryan A: TBD