Having boasted a ten-point lead over Chelsea less than a month ago, Tottenham’s penultimate game of the season against Newcastle ought to have been irrelevant.
Instead, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have made things characteristically difficult for themselves and they must match the Blues’ results this week to be sure of Champions League football going into their new stadium.
Spurs fans will have one eye on proceedings at Stamford Bridge, where last season’s champions welcome struggling Huddersfield Town. The Terriers managed a goalless draw against Manchester City this weekend, which might give hope that they can pull off another shock result in west London.
Tottenham suffered an upset of their own on Saturday, losing 1-0 to basement club West Brom courtesy of a 92nd minute goal from former player Jake Livermore.
Prior to that, they produced an uninspiring win against Watford, which followed an FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United, a frustrating draw with Brighton, and a home defeat to Manchester City.
Things are going wrong at the worst possible time, but they may take comfort in the fact that Newcastle have lost their last three games on the trot to Watford, West Brom, and Everton.
The Magpies’ record on the road this season has been poor too, losing ten, drawing four, and winning just four of their away league games so far. Rafa Benitez’s men have little to play for having already secured their survival – the highest they can finish is ninth if they overtake out-of-form Leicester City.
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Dele Alli and Jonjo Shelvey are set to come up against each other for the first time since their clash in the reverse fixture last August, a spat which saw the Newcastle midfielder sent off in a 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park.
Team news
Jan Vertonghen is a major doubt for the hosts having taken a knock to his ankle against the Baggies. The Belgian is likely to join Serge Aurier (thigh) and Harry Winks (ankle) on the sidelines, though Mousa Dembele should be available.
Newcastle will be without the suspended Islam Slimani, along with Christian Atsu and Ciaran Clark.
Expected line-ups:
Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Dier, Wanyama, Son, Alli, Eriksen, Kane
Newcastle: Dubravka, Manquillo, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Murphy, Diame, Shelvey, Kenedy, Perez, Gayle
Did you know?
It’s almost two years to the day since Tottenham’s infamous 5-1 defeat to Newcastle, who had already been relegated, on the final day of the 2015/2016 season, a result which saw them slip behind Arsenal in the table and finish third.
That was Benitez’s biggest win over the north Londoners. Harry Redknapp was the only Spurs manager to beat the Spaniard during his six-year reign at Liverpool, which he did on three occasions in all competitions.
Prediction:
Spurs’ buffer over Chelsea was such that they could afford one slip-up in their run-in, but they cannot be beaten again if they are to make the top four.
While they have been unconvincing of late, they still have a very good record at home and should go into the final day of the season with at least a two-point gap.
Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle
