Tottenham vs Newcastle: Seeking First League Points

Tottenham Hotspur walk back into Premier League duty on Saturday with something to prove. Beaten 3-0 at Brentford on the opening weekend, they briefly eased the pressure with a 5-1 Carabao Cup dismantling of Charlton Athletic in midweek.

Now Roberto De Zerbi needs that cup swagger to show up when it really counts.

Injuries bite, but competition for places grows

The treatment room has not been kind. Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odebert are all still missing with knee injuries, while Mohammed Kudus is out with a thigh problem. James Maddison, a creative pillar in this side, is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks after fracturing his shoulder. Pape Sarr is touch and go with a thigh issue.

De Zerbi at least has decisions to make elsewhere.

Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro, both eased back as substitutes against Charlton, are pushing hard for starting spots again. New loan arrival Omar Marmoush, whose move from Manchester City was confirmed on Thursday, is set for a more cautious introduction and is likely to begin on the bench.

In goal, Antonin Kinsky is in line to keep his place after midweek. Porro is poised to reclaim the right-back role from Archie Gray, with Van de Ven potentially stepping in alongside fellow Dutchman Jan Paul van Hecke at centre-back. On the left, Andrew Robertson is currently preferred to Destiny Udogie.

Tonali faces former club as Savio stakes his claim

The midfield carries its own storyline. Sandro Tonali is set to start against his former club, anchoring the centre of the pitch alongside Mateus Fernandes and Conor Gallagher. Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall offer alternatives, but the balance of energy, bite and control points towards that trio.

Up front, one performance has changed the conversation.

Savio came off the bench against Charlton and lit up the tie, scoring and assisting on his debut. That impact has pushed him to the front of the queue for a start on the right of a front three, flanking Richarlison through the middle and Mathys Tel on the opposite side.

If De Zerbi sticks with his 4-3-3, Tottenham’s possible XI looks like this:

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting XI (4-3-3): Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali, Gallagher; Savio, Richarlison, Tel

Kick-off time and TV details

Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United kicks off at 17:30 on Saturday, 29 August 2026.

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

A bruising league start, a statement cup win, key players missing and a former Newcastle midfielder at the heart of it all — Tottenham’s season won’t be defined this weekend, but it might just be redirected.