Newcastle vs Spurs

Mo Sissoko can enjoy his return to Tyneside when Tottenham take on Newcastle United in their first Premier League match of the campaign.

The 28-year-old France international endured a disappointing spell at St James’ Park and it was something of a surprise when he was outstanding for his country at Euro 2016 and that Spurs were willing to splash out £30million to secure his services.

Spurs fans have been underwhelmed by the midfielder’s displays as well but he did end last term strongly and, following a summer of transfer inactivity at the club, he could be handed a start by Mauricio Pochettino at Newcastle. Sissoko is 19.00 to score the first goal on Saturday lunchtime.

Magpies fans have once again slated owner Mike Ashley for a lack of new signings at the club this summer. It is incredible to note that their record signing remains the £17million they splashed out on Michael Owen 13 years ago.

Rafa Benitez has been able to snap up Fabian Schar, Ki Sung-yueng, Yoshinori Muto, Federico Fernandez and Salomon Rondon, on loan from West Brom, since the end of last term, but they are primarily shopping in the bargain basement compared with other teams in the top half of the Premier League table.

Tottenham to win 2-0 @ 10.00

Newcastle have been poor in pre-season and their prospects for this weekend’s match are not great with Spurs keen to replicate the 2-0 victory they enjoyed against Benitez’s team on the opening weekend last term.

Dele Alli and Ben Davies were on target in that game, which saw Jonjo Shelvey pick up a red card, and it would not be a surprise to see Pochettino’s team return to London with all three points once again on Saturday.

Tottenham to score in both halves @ 3.25

Newcastle, despite the capture of Rondon, look as though they will struggle for goals again this season – they only managed 39 in 2017/18 despite finishing 10th with Ayoze Perez their top scorer in the Premier League with eight.

The Toon squad once again looks thin and without Benitez at the helm they would surely face a serious battle to avoid relegation. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss is wily enough to keep the Magpies in the Premier League once again though, despite the restrictions placed on him by the club’s owner.

Tottenham to win to nil @ 3.25

Pochettino has concentrated on keeping his big names at the club rather than adding new faces to a squad that has finished in the top four in each of the last three campaigns.

Harry Kane, Davinson Sanchez, Son Heung-min, Erik Lamela, and Pochettino himself, have all penned new deals this summer as Spurs prepare to start a new era when they move into their new stadium in mid-September.

It may be tricky for Tottenham to finish in the top four once again this season though as they juggle domestic and European action with many of their players having had little rest since their exertions at the World Cup.

Kane, Alli, Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele all look set to be absent at the weekend. Even so they should be strong enough to open their Premier League campaign with three points at Newcastle.

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