Newcastle v Tottenham betting preview: Free best bets, preview & prediction
Both teams had disappointing transfer windows but Spurs can prove they don't need any new faces if they can dig out a result at Newcastle in the lunchtime kick-off.
Recommended bets:
1pt Tottenham to beat Newcastle at 11/10
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Newcastle v Tottenham (1230 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)
The first lunchtime kick-off of the Premier League season pits together two teams whose supporters will be slightly worried after disappointing transfer window activity.
If Rafa Benitez has been quiet in the transfer market, Mauricio Pochettino has been positively mute in bringing exactly zero new faces to the club. Newcastle meanwhile have been subdued and there remains disquiet among the ranks.
This is a repeat of last season's opening day fixture but, although there are no new names in the Spurs squad the team may look considerably different due to the World Cup.
Spurs had nine players involved in the final weekend of action in Russia and exactly what part the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen will play will depend on how they pull up after training Friday.
For punters that means the game is even harder to call than it would be usually - especially so given that Newcastle have a handful of new signings that may feature including Fabian Schar, Ki Sung-yueng, Salomon Rondon and Yoshinori Muto.
Throw in the fact that it's the early kick-off then it's hard to see anything other than a disjointed affair as half of Spurs players may have their minds, and their legs, still in Russia while the Magpies' players have been on a media boycott after an argument over bonuses.
It all adds up to what will be an intriguing clash at St James' Park albeit not necessarily one filled with quality, but even with their top players missing Spurs should be good enough to start with three points and at odds-against, they're worth a small bet to prove that a lack of summer activity need not spell disaster.
Posted at 1730 BST on 10/08/18.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham (Sky Bet Odds: 11/2)
The home side may well get off to a flying start with their crowd behind them, but even if they don't start well there should be enough quality within the Spurs squad to pull out a result. Benitez will be happy to concede possession but that will set Spurs up nicely to get back into the game and squeeze out the win.
Best Bet: Tottenham to beat Newcastle at 11/10
As reasoned above, there's talent in this Tottenham squad, even if they didn't buy anyone in the transfer window, and the younger players will only get better. There's also a decent chance their World Cup stars either start or play at some stage - that should be enough for the win at a general 11/10.
Goalscorer: Christian Eriksen to score in 90 minutes at 3/1
He's been tremendous for Tottenham over the last few years and will be on the set plays as well. He's been back longer than his fellow World Cup competitors so could hit the ground running.
Selected RequestABet: Son to score, Spurs win, BTTS and 6+ corners each team at 33/1
A bit of a punt on the corners here but that's what gets you the added payback. Both teams to score, in the first game of the season, is perfectly doable and Son has proven to be a real danger over the last few years in the Premier League - his pace will cause trouble.
Opta facts
- Newcastle have lost their last two league meetings with Tottenham, failing to score in both those games; they last lost three in a row against the Lilywhites in December 2005 (four consecutive defeats, all without scoring).
- At St James’ Park, Newcastle have lost three of their last four league clashes with Spurs, with that win coming via their 5-1 win on the final day of the 2015-16 season.
- Spurs have only failed to score in one of their last 25 Premier League meetings with Newcastle – a 0-1 home defeat in November 2013.
- This will be the fourth time Newcastle and Tottenham have met on the opening weekend of a Premier League campaign, more often than any other fixture in the competition.
- Newcastle have lost just one of their eight home league games in 2018, vs West Brom in April (W5 D2). This run includes victories over Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, who all finished in the top six in 2017-18.
- Newcastle are winless in their last four opening Premier League matches, drawing one and losing three. Their last victory came in August 2012, beating Tottenham 2-1 at St James’ Park.
- Tottenham are playing their first match of the season away from home for the eighth consecutive campaign. In English top-flight history, only Burnley have ever had a longer such run of playing away in a season opener (nine games between 1888-89 and 1896-97).
- Tottenham have lost just one of their nine away league games in 2018 (W5 D3), losing 0-1 at West Brom in May.
- Only Manchester City (41) have won more Premier League points so far in 2018 than Tottenham (40).
- Tottenham striker Harry Kane has never scored a Premier League goal in the month of August, despite playing 13 games, 898 minutes and attempting 44 shots.