Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur – Insight into Matchday No 32

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Newcastle United were humbled by Aston Villa a week ago, as the Magpies fell 3-0 at Villa Park. The Premier League is no longer a Big 4 or Big 6 league.

Eight teams can conceivably fight for European places.

The Magpies enter matchday No 32 in fourth place, three points ahead of Sunday’s visitors Tottenham Hotspur. The two clubs have the inside track to qualify for the Champions League. However, Spurs are struggling and have a difficult upcoming fixture list.

Tottenham are coming off a shock 3-2 loss to Bournemouth at home. The loss ended a four-match unbeaten streak under interim manager Cristian Stellini.

Newcastle won at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season. Can they win again versus Spurs?

Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-Head

Newcastle’s 2-1 win at Tottenham ended a five-match winless streak against Spurs in all competitions. Surprisingly, wins and losses between the two clubs during the Premier League era have been rather close.

Spurs just edge the head-to-head record against Newcastle with 24W-8D-23L. The winner of Sunday’s match will have the inside track to fourth place in the Premier League. However, Spurs have a difficult final stretch.

Tottenham must still play Manchester United, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brentford, and Leeds. Newcastle have remaining matches versus Everton, Southampton, Arsenal, Leeds, Brighton, Leicester, and Chelsea. The Magpies also have a game in hand.

Eddie Howe vs Cristian Stellini

Stellini is only Spurs’ interim manager. He will be replaced at the end of the season once Spurs find a permanent manager.

Stellini has never managed against Newcastle or Howe. He is averaging 1.59 points per match as Spurs’ interim boss.

Howe has faced Tottenham on 12 occasions, posting a record of 2W-2D-8L. He averaged just 0.67 points per match in those 12 fixtures.

Top goal scorers in Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur fixtures

• Alan Shearer (NUFC) – 11 goals
• Len White (NUFC) – 9 goals
• Harry Kane (THFC) – 9 goals
• Martin Chivers (THFC) – 8 goals

Newcastle are in uncharted territory. The club isn’t used to fighting for European qualification at this point in the campaign. Their nerves and naivety showed a week ago at Villa Park, losing 3-0.

For all Newcastle do well, if the attack struggles, the team drops points. The Magpies have been built on a solid defence, which leads the league with the fewest goals conceded with 24.

Spurs were supposed to have one of the best defences in the league. Yet, the team has allowed the seventh most goals in 2022-23.