Tottenham face Newcastle in the Premier League’s early kick-off, with the hosts looking to grab a much-needed three points to relieve some of the pressure surrounding Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs sit in 11th as the new year begins, with questions surrounding the Australian after a string of poor results, though they remain in contention for the league cup and European places in 2025.
Meanwhile, Newcastle made a similarly mixed start to the season but found form before the end of the year, with four straight wins putting them in fifth and right among the contenders for Champions League football next season.
This will also be the first Premier League match that Thomas Tuchel will attend after taking charge of England on January 1. The German will be watching the likes of Anthony Gordon and James Maddison as he takes his place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Follow all of the build-up from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in our live blog below:
Tottenham face Newcastle in the Premier League, live on TNT Sports 1
58’ POST! Brennan Johnson strikes outside of post from angle (1-2)
38’ GOAL! Alexander Isak scores again to give Newcastle lead (1-2)
31’ CHANCE! Isak pokes wide with Gordon set for tap-in (1-1)
7’ VAR? Spurs furious after Joelinton handball not given (1-1)
6’ GOAL! Newcastle equalise immediately as Gordon finishes (1-1)
4’ GOAL! Dominic Solanke header gives depleted Spurs flying start (1-0)
Goalkeeper Brandon Austin makes Tottenham debut as Sven Botman returns
Tottenham Hotspur FC 1 – 2 Newcastle United FC
14:07 , Jamie Braidwood
75 mins: Tottenham are ramping up the pressure now Maddison and Son are on the pitch. Burn is forced to clear Son’s cross then Porro’s shot is blocked by Tonali.
Dubravka has not been worked too much but has to be sharp to get off his line and pounce on Kulusevksi.
14:00 , Jamie Braidwood
69 mins: Kulusevski has been quiet today and almost gets the chance to break into the box from a Porro pass. But the ball runs under his studs and the chance quickly goes.
13:58 , Jamie Braidwood
66 mins: Brandon Austin, who has done really well today, stays down after coming for a high cross. He looks winded, but it’s the last thing Tottenham want to see. Who replaces the third-choice goalkeeper if needed?
13:56 , Jamie Braidwood
65 mins: It’s better from Tottenham, who are having more control now. Newcastle will have chances on the break but Spurs need to take those risks now.
13:52 , Jamie Braidwood
61 mins: Changes for Tottenham. Son, Maddison and Yves Bissouma are all coming on. Werner, Sarr and Bergvall are off.
There are some boos as Bergvall comes off for Maddison. He’s played well, Bergvall.
Meanwhile, Gordon has a new shirt, some toilet roll stuffed up his nostril, and is sent back on for Newcastle.
13:49 , Jamie Braidwood
58 mins: Gordon is left bloodied as he cuts inside Kulusevski and barges into the Tottenham forward’s shoulder.
This is nasty for Gordon. Looks like a burst nose.
13:48 , Jamie Braidwood
57 mins: Newcastle look dangerous from the counter as Bruno plays it wide to Gordon. It’s fed to Tonali, who strikes at Gray. It breaks to Gordon, who blazes over.
Newcastle will have more of those chances, you feel.
13:46 , Jamie Braidwood
55 mins: POST! Tottenham almost equalise! Sarr’s shot from the edge was going wide but Dubravka gets down to save. It breaks to Johnson, who clips the near post from the angle.
This is a good spell for Spurs.
13:45 , Jamie Braidwood
54 mins: Good persistence from Bergvall out on the wing as he tees up Kulusevski. Burn is there to clear at the front post.
13:42 , Jamie Braidwood
50 mins: It’s end-to-end to start the second half. A frantic passage ends in Tonali shooting into a cluster of Tottenham defenders. Before then, Solanke had the chance to turn in the box but was blocked by Botman.
13:38 , Jamie Braidwood
47 mins: Porro has been great for Spurs and puts in another belter of a cross from right back. Solanke challenges for it but clatters into goalkeeper Dubravka, who stays down.
13:36 , Jamie Braidwood
46 mins: Back underway at Tottenham, who have made a change at half-time. Sergio Reguilon is on for Radu Dragusin. That means Tottenham now have no recognised centre-backs. Djed Spence has gone alongside Archie Gray.
Another headache for Spurs and Postecoglou.
13:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Still a long way to go and Tottenham have Son Heung-min and James Maddison to use from the bench, but if Newcastle hold on they will move level on points with Chelsea ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace.
They look like a side in brilliant form.
13:23 , Jamie Braidwood
Tottenham’s lead lasted just two minutes and 20 seconds and although the ball did strike Joelinton’s arm, Ange Postecoglou’s side gave it away playing out from defence and they can only have themselves to blame.
If Spurs don’t turrn this around, they will suffer a 10th Premier League defeat of the season – which is as many as Ispwich and only one less than Wolves and Leicester.
13:21 , Jamie Braidwood
Plenty of entertainment in the Premier League’s early kick off but Newcastle lead at the break after recovering from Dominic Solanke’s early goal.
There are a few boos at the half-time whistle but they may be for the referee after Anthony Gordon’s goal was allowed to stand despite Joelinton’s handball.
What is not up for debate, though, is that Newcastle have been in total control since then and were completely on top when Alexander Isak put the visitors ahead.
13:18 , Jamie Braidwood
45+2 mins: Newcastle have bossed this since around the 25th minute, with Guimaraes and Tonali in total control of the midfield.
Isak almost plays in Joelinton with a smart flick and Tottenham are hanging on until half-time. Four minutes were added on.
13:15 , Jamie Braidwood
43 mins: CLOSE! Newcastle are queuing up in the box as Gordon cuts inside and whips a shot beyond the post that takes a deflection. Joelinton isn’t too far away from the corner, either.
13:13 , Jamie Braidwood
If you’re Alexander Isak you are fancying your chances of scoring even more today against this Tottenham defence.
It’s nine goals in seven games for the striker now since the start of December. Red-hot. And 12 goals for the season is only behind Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland in the Premier League.
13:08 , Jamie Braidwood
Newcastle lead! And it was coming! Every move from the visitors was threatening and another slick move cuts Newcastle open.
Murphy gets down the right and beats Spence to pull the ball across. Dragusin can’t clear and Isak is ready behind him for the tap-in.
Isak scores for the seventh game in a row and keeps up his hot streak.
13:05 , Jamie Braidwood
33 mins: Another good move from Newcastle as they fly forward down the left and Gordon plays through Guimaraes.
Porro gets across to concede the corner. Gordon pings it towards the back-post (Son and Cunha style) but Austin responds well and punches away under pressure. He also draws the foul.
Newcastle well on top before half time.
13:03 , Jamie Braidwood
31 mins: CHANCE! Yep, the second Newcastle goal is coming. And they are inches away as Guimaraes threads in Murphy and he slides the ball across goal.
Isak stretches to get a toe on it but the finish fades away from the far post. Gordon was behind him and had a tap-in.
13:01 , Jamie Braidwood
29 mins: Newcastle are starting to purr, as Isak gets into the box with a threatening run. Livramento then wins a corner with a run on the opposite side.
Austin is being cornered from the corners but Hall’s delivery is too close to the front man.
12:59 , Jamie Braidwood
27 mins: A chance for Tottenham to break as Gordon’s shot is blocked and Werner takes off at speed on the counter.
Gordon, though, tracks back really well and wins it back alongside Livramento. Porro then shoots over the bar.
12:56 , Jamie Braidwood
25 mins: Now then… Dan Burn stretches his arms out wide as Kulusevski attempts to flick it past him. Burn blocks with his shoulder and the referee gives handball… .but Burn escapes a yellow card.
That would have been a second yellow and a red card… but Burn gets away with it.
12:55 , Jamie Braidwood
23 mins: Newcastle threaten again as Murphy puts an excellent ball across the face. It feels as if the visitors can get through so quickly when they win it back on halfway.
12:52 , Jamie Braidwood
19 mins: SAVE! Newcastle attack from where as Botman wins it back from Solanke. In a flash, Isak plays in Gordon but he can’t get his finish beyond Austin. Instead, it’s into the front post area and the goalkeeper saves.
Gordon should do better.
12:48 , Jamie Braidwood
15 mins: Austin makes a confident catch from a Gordon free-kick wide on the left. Spurs break forward after the next Newcastle attack and Burn is booking for taking Solanke out.
As clear a yellow as you will see.
12:43 , Jamie Braidwood
12 mins: Spurs, you will not be surprised to hear, are still looking to attack with all they have.
Solanke’s shot is blocked by Botman after a surging run from Johnson and Porro.
Totteham then almost play themselves into trouble as Dragusin is almost caught by Isak.
12:42 , Jamie Braidwood
8 mins: Ange Postecoglou was furious with Newcastle’s equaliser and is still shaking his head.
The VAR ruled that Joelinton’s handball was not deliberate and his arm was in a natural position.
Spurs don’t agree.
12:40 , Jamie Braidwood
7 mins: Two goals from English forwards inside seven minutes? Thomas Tuchel will be pleased.
12:36 , Jamie Braidwood
6 mins: AN IMMEDIATE EQUALISER! GOALS, GOALS, GOALS! It’s Anthony Gordon with the finish, Tottenham want a handball! This will go to VAR!
The goal stands! Tottenham shoot themselves in the foot again as Bergvall loses it. It strikes Joelinton’s arm in the process, but there was nothing he could do about it.
From there, Newcastle work the ball to Gordon and the winger finishes calmly into the corner. Chaos already!
12:34 , Jamie Braidwood
4 mins: A BRILLIANT Tottenham goal! What a header from Dominic Solanke! We knew there would be goals!
A storming run from Bergvall drove Tottenham up the pitch. Pedro Porro then swung in a beautiful first-time cross.
And Solanke wanted it. He muscled his way to the ball and planted a downward header into the corner! A great striker’s goal.
12:33 , Jamie Braidwood
2 mins: Thomas Tuchel is in the stands at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Livramento gets back to his feet.
The right back will be one of the players the England manager will be watching today, along with Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon.
12:31 , Jamie Braidwood
1 mins: Spurs get us underway. We’re expecting goals today. An early worry for Newcastle as Livramento goes down after a collision with Bergvall.
12:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Here we go! The players are out on a cold afternoon in north London. Can depleted Tottenham keep Newcastle and Alexander Isak at bay? The in-form visitors have to be favourites here to make it five wins in a row.
12:26 , Jamie Braidwood
Tottenham fell behind at home in 15 games in 2024, which was a record for the club. Wolves were the latest team to take the lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Hwang Hee-chan opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw.
Spurs will look to buck that trend in 2025.
12:21 , Jamie Braidwood
Alexander Isak scored eight goals in just six Premier League games in December, as well as adding two assists.
He is the in-form striker in the Premier League right now (Mohamed Salah aside) and could take advantage of a depleted Spurs defence today.
Eddie Howe told TNT Sports: “He is one of the best strikers in the league. He is getting a lot of headlines – we ask him to do a lot.”
The Newcastle manager adds that Sven Botman deserves his start and is ready to return for Newcastle in the heart of defence.
“He is an outstanding player,” Howe said. “When we lost him it was a bleak moment for us.”
12:14 , Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Tuchel will attend his first match as England‘s new head coach on Saturday lunchtime when Tottenham host Newcastle.
The 51-year-old German, whose contract officially started on New Year’s Day, will then attend further games across the Premier League weekend alongside his assistant Anthony Barry.
The match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will give him the opportunity to see the likes of James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall in action.
He and his support team are then due to visit the training base at St George’s Park for the first time next week.
The complex in Staffordshire will be Tuchel and his team’s main place of work, and they plan to hold a series of introductory meetings with relevant members of staff across the course of next week.
Thomas Tuchel to start life as England manager with trip to Tottenham
12:12 , Jamie Braidwood
Ange Postecoglou confirms that Fraser Forster is out with illness, which has hit the Tottenham camp this week.
He told TNT Sports: “Fraser copped the brunt of it and he hasn’t been well in the past few days so Brandon gets the opportunity.”
On Son’s place on the bench: “Just selection and a busy programme coming up – that’s what we need today.”
12:04 , Jamie Braidwood
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has played down talk of a problem with James Maddison after the midfielder spent his Sunday night at the World Darts Championship, having reported ill before the Wolves match.
Maddison made headlines when he was pictured with Spurs attacker Brennan Johnson at Alexandra Palace for the last-16 tie between Luke Humphries and Peter Wright.
He subsequently called a fan on Instagram a “wally” for being critical of his decision to go to the darts, hours after the 2-2 draw with Wolves, where the England international was set to start before being deemed only well enough to be a substitute.
Ange Postecoglou speaks out on James Maddison’s darts trip despite illness
11:54 , Jamie Braidwood
The good news for Tottenham, however, is they are close to signing a new goalkeeper after reaching an agreement with Slavia Prague for 21-year-old Antonin Kinsky.
The absence of No 1 Guglielmo Vicario, who broke his ankle in the 4-0 win over Manchester City, is seen as one of the major reasons for Spurs’ recent drop-off, especially with how specifically Ange Postecoglou uses his goalkeepers.
Tottenham have been grateful for how Fraser Forster has stepped up but the club have been searching for an alternative since Vicario required ankle surgery in November after not signing a new No 2 in the summer.
Tottenham close to signing highly rated goalkeeper as Guglielmo Vicario cover
11:39 , Jamie Braidwood
At 25, Tottenham academy graduate Brandon Austin makes his competitive debut for Tottenham this afternoon.
Born in Hemel Hempstead, Austin has progressed through the ranks at Tottenham but has had to wait a long time for a shot between the posts.
He was on the bench 17 times last season, behind Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster, but signed a new deal to 2029 in the summer.
He made loan moves to Viborg FF in Demark and Orlando City in the MLS , but has been at Tottenham since 2021 without making an appearance.
11:24 , Jamie Braidwood
For Newcastle, Sven Botman starts in one of two changes as Tino Livramento replaces Kieran Trippier.
Botman replaces the suspended Fabian Schar and returns to defence after a long injury absence.
11:22 , Jamie Braidwood
Big team news for both Tottenham and Newcastle. Spurs are ravaged with injuries and illness, and goalkeeper Brandon Austin makes his debut in place of Fraser Forster – who is not in the squad.
Lucas Bergvall starts in midfield, with Rodrigo Bentacur out and James Maddison and Yves Bissouma on the bench.
Captain Son Heung-min is also on the bench and Timo Werner joins Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson in defence.
11:18 , Jamie Braidwood
Tottenham XI: Austin; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Spence; Sarr, Kulusevski, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Werner.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy Isak, Gordon.
11:04 , Jamie Braidwood
Newcastle defender Fabian Schar will similarly serve a one-match suspension after his fifth booking of the season. Sven Botman is nearing his comeback from a long lay off but this game may come too soon. Kieran Trippier is a doubt.
11:04 , Jamie Braidwood
Destiny Udogie is the latest Tottenham defender to suffer an injury issue, joining Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero on the sidelines with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also out. Djed Spence is at least back from suspension, but Rodrigo Bentancur’s return to the team was brief with an accumulation of yellow cards causing the Uruguayan midfielder to miss this fixture.
11:03 , Jamie Braidwood
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11:03 , Jamie Braidwood
An injury-hit Tottenham start 2025 in desperate need of a win as Newcastle come to London to open the second half of the Premier League season.
A difficult recent run amid a number of defensive issues has caused Ange Postecoglou’s methods to come under question with Spurs slipping into the bottom half with hopes of even a European place next season in doubt.
There are no such concerns for Eddie Howe’s side, with four wins in a row in the league marking a perfect end to an up-and-down 2024.
That leaves them back in the hunt for a top four finish as they begin the year looking to start well on the road.
