Tottenham Hotspur drew their first game of the 2024/25 Premier League season before winning decisively in their second match, much like they did last year
Tottenham, who hammered Everton 4-0 last weekend, are set to visit their bogey ground, St. James’ Park, to face Newcastle United, who have lost their previous two trips to Tyneside by an aggregate score of 10-1.
Ange Postecoglou is molding Spurs to his liking and appears to be preparing for a concerted push toward Champions League qualification and, possibly, an elusive piece of silverware.
There’s a lot to appreciate about this Tottenham side, which combines youth and experience, dynamism and depth throughout the pitch. Injuries marred last season’s fast start, and fans will be hoping the Lilywhites’ collective fitness level holds up this time.
Spurs Team News
The biggest source of frustration for Postecoglou ahead of this afternoon’s game is the absence of Dominic Solanke, who was sidelined last week due to an ankle injury sustained in training.
The centre-forward, who signed from Bournemouth for a club record £65 million this summer, will not play today, but Postecoglou has allayed fears of a long layoff, revealing in his pre-match press conference that he is “close” to returning but will not risk it with the international break approaching.
Spurs’ striker problem is complicated by the likely absence of Richarlison, who suffered a muscular injury in training and will not play. Heung-min Son is likely to continue leading the charge.
Rodrigo Bentancur missed out last week too, having suffered a concussion during Tottenham’s opening-day draw against Leicester City, but he is back in the frame now and must start in the middle of the park.
Why Rodrigo Bentancur should start against Newcastle.
He can’t seem to get a break. Bentancur missed the most of 2023 after hurting his anterior cruciate ligament against Leicester in February of last year, capping off an outstanding 2022/23 season.
His misfortune spilled over into Postecoglou’s first season as manager, and he made only 13 Premier League starts. It’s a sad irony that he’s starting the new season in such a way, having been dealt another blow at the King Power Stadium.
He’s the entire package: lively, skilled, and hardworking, with an unstoppable engine. Bentancur is undeniably one of the top players on the field when he is fit and doing well.
Football writer Tom Robinson describes him as a “Rolls-Royce” because he ranks among the top 9% of centre-midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for passes attempted over the past year, as well as the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area and interceptions per 90, emphasizing his technical skill and athleticism.
Bentancur, who may play alongside Yves Bissouma or Archie Gray in the engine room and James Maddison in the central position, might be the difference-maker, being combative out of possession while still being influential on the ball.
His return to the starting lineup would force Dejan Kuluesvski out, and while such a change should be made, the Sweden international must also start.
How could Dejan Kulusevski keep Son firing?
Kulusevski, of course, is usually a right-sided forward. He doesn’t have the quick feet like Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, or Timo Werner, but his intelligence, creativity, and hands-on approach could help Son shine against the Magpies.
Kulusevski, who was benched for the first game of the season, performed admirably against Everton, recording an assist, completing 95% of his passes and two dribbles, and winning four of his seven contested duels, according to Sofascore.
Odobert performed admirably against the Toffees, but Newcastle are one of the most well-drilled and cohesive teams in the Premier League, and a player of Kulusevski’s caliber might be critical in ensuring the hosts are outthought and outfought.
After all, he received an 8/10 match score from football.london following his latest performance, with writer Alasdair Gold writing: ‘Back in the team in midfield, and he had a huge part to do in the opening goal with his dribbling in the Everton final third and then teeing up Bissouma. A promising return to the team, demonstrating that he is an excellent choice as a member of the midfield trio.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir summed him up nicely, saying, “Dejan Kulusevski is a special player.” Works so hard, it covers every blade of grass. “He has a hell of an engine and so much heart.”
He’s more than simply a workhorse; he’s a thoroughbred creative phenomenon. Last season, the unstoppable winger produced 14 major opportunities in the English top division, averaging 1.5 dribbles and 1.8 critical passes per game.
The South Korean captain scored twice last time out and will be hoping for a similar performance Saturday. However, he has only scored five goals in 16 games against the Toon, who will try to contain him and limit his attacking danger.
But you wouldn’t bet on the 32-year-old scoring if Tottenham visit Tyneside, with Postecoglou describing his talisman as a “superstar” and “world-class”.
However, he is much more than just a goal scorer. According to FBref, Son is among the top 7% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for assists over the last year, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for pass completeness, the top 7% for progressive passes, and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90 minutes.
He can effectively return the favour by pulling defenders away and threading passes through, keeping Tottenham’s assault multi-dimensional and allowing Kulusevski to find space and improve his ball-striking.
It’s very evident that Son will start as centre-forward against Newcastle, but some fans may be afraid that Kulusevski will lose his place now that Bentancur has been cleared to return to the pitch.
He merely needs to go up to the right wing, where he can cause havoc and collaborate with his multifaceted captain.
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