Darren Anderton has predicted Tottenham will earn all three points against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon, when Mauricio Pochettino’s side travel to Tyneside.
Spurs will be hoping to launch a Premier League title challenge this season and must begin by earning all three points against the Toon, despite the absence of a number of first-team stars.
Spurs icon Anderton posted on his personal Twitter account that Pochettino’s side will earn a 3-1 win over Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle, despite being away from home.
Can't wait for today's game. I'm going for a 3-1 win @SpursOfficial #COYS
— Darren Anderton (@DarrenAnderton) August 13, 2017
Spurs are set to go without full-backs Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose, which is likely to see Eric Dier fill in at right-back while Ben Davies is expected to start on the left side of defence.
Pochettino will also be without speed machine Georges N’Koudou who is suffering with a foot injury, while Argentina international Erik Lamela has failed to recover from his long-term hip problem.
Tottenham will be hoping for a much better performance than the last time they travelled to the north east to face Newcastle, which saw an already-relegated Toon smash Spurs 5-1 in the final game of the 2015-16 season.
Spurs could take an early lead over rivals Liverpool and Chelsea in the league, after both dropped points on Saturday following the Reds’ draw against Watford while Antonio Conte’s champions lost to Burnley at Stamford Bridge.
OPINION
Spurs must not underestimate Benitez’s side, who are able to beat anybody on their day in front of the bellowing St. James’ Park support. The atmosphere will be electric at Newcastle’s home ground come Sunday afternoon, and Benitez’s side could easily take advantage of Spurs’ multiple injury problems to secure an unlikely victory and add another twist to an explosive weekend in the Premier League. Although Pochettino’s side should still claim all three points, Benitez can cause a threat to the north London outfit by targeting Dier at right-back, if the England international starts on the right side of the defence. Spurs should win, but Newcastle have more than enough to upset the odds.