Tottenham vs Newcastle: De Zerbi Seeks First League Victory

Tottenham Hotspur walk back into Premier League action on Saturday evening knowing there’s nowhere left to hide. Beaten 3-0 at Brentford on the opening weekend, they steadied themselves with a 5-1 Carabao Cup dismantling of Charlton Athletic in midweek. Now Roberto De Zerbi needs that cup swagger to survive the jump in intensity when Newcastle United arrive in north London.

The response against Charlton was sharp, aggressive, closer to De Zerbi’s blueprint. It has to be the starting point, not the exception.

Injuries bite, but shape takes form

The team sheet still tells a harsher story than the scoreline did in midweek. Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odebert are all still out with knee injuries, stripping Spurs of creativity and width. Mohammed Kudus is missing with a thigh problem, another attacking option gone.

James Maddison, the natural conductor of this side, is expected to miss a couple of weeks after fracturing his shoulder. Pape Sarr is a doubt with a thigh issue, leaving De Zerbi juggling his midfield balance on the eve of a crucial league game.

So the reshuffle continues.

Antonin Kinsky is set to keep his place in goal after starting the cup win. In front of him, the back four may carry a very different weight. Pedro Porro, used from the bench against Charlton, is poised to come back in at right-back, likely at the expense of Archie Gray. In the middle, Micky van de Ven is pushing hard for a start and could line up alongside fellow Dutchman Jan Paul van Hecke at centre-back.

On the left, Andrew Robertson is currently favoured over Destiny Udogie, a nod to experience and delivery in a game where Spurs will want to pin Newcastle back but can’t afford to be loose in transition.

Tonali faces former club as midfield battle looms

The emotional thread of the evening runs straight through the middle of the pitch. Sandro Tonali is set to start against his former club, anchoring a midfield that will have to set the tempo early.

Tonali is expected to line up with Mateus Fernandes and Conor Gallagher, a trio that offers bite, legs and a passing range capable of breaking Newcastle’s press. Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall provide alternative profiles if De Zerbi wants more control or extra energy from the bench, but the initial plan points towards Tonali driving the rhythm from deep.

For Tonali, this is more than another league fixture. For Spurs, his performance could define how much of the game they actually own.

Savio stakes his claim in evolving front three

Up front, one midweek cameo has changed the conversation. Savio came off the bench against Charlton, scored, assisted, and immediately looked like a player who belongs in the Premier League spotlight. That impact should be rewarded with a start on the right of a front three.

Richarlison is set to lead the line, a focal point who now needs goals to match the graft. On the left, Mathys Tel brings direct running and unpredictability, the kind of threat that can drag Newcastle’s back line out of shape.

New loan signing Omar Marmoush, whose move from Manchester City was confirmed on Thursday, is expected to begin on the bench. De Zerbi will likely keep him as an option to change the game later rather than throw him straight into the starting XI.

Predicted Tottenham XI

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting XI (4-3-3):

Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali, Gallagher; Savio, Richarlison, Tel.

Kick-off and TV details

The Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United kicks off at 17:30 on Saturday, 29 August 2026.

In the UK, the match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

Spurs have their first league points of the season to chase, a new identity to cement, and a heavyweight visitor in town. If the Charlton performance was the spark, this is where everyone finds out whether it can catch fire.