Tottenham vs Newcastle: De Zerbi Aims for First League Points
Tottenham Hotspur walk back into Premier League action on Saturday with a bruise on their ego and a point to prove. Beaten 3-0 at Brentford on the opening weekend, they responded with a ruthless 5-1 dismantling of Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup. Now Roberto De Zerbi needs that midweek swagger to survive the jump in intensity when Newcastle United arrive in north London.
The cup win changed the mood. The table hasn’t.
Spurs are still searching for their first league points of the season, and the manager knows a flat start at home against a direct rival would crank the pressure straight back up.
Depleted, but dangerous
De Zerbi’s options are stretched in key areas. Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odebert are all out with knee injuries, while Mohammed Kudus is nursing a thigh problem. James Maddison, a player who usually stitches Tottenham’s attacks together, is expected to be missing for a couple of weeks with a fractured shoulder. Pape Sarr is a doubt, also with a thigh issue.
That is a lot of creativity and control stripped from one squad.
So the onus shifts to those fit enough to carry the load. Sandro Tonali, facing his former club, is set to anchor a midfield that will have to think quickly and run even quicker. Alongside him, Mateus Fernandes and Conor Gallagher bring legs, aggression and the willingness to press high, the kind of profile De Zerbi leans on when his more subtle playmakers are unavailable.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall wait in reserve, but for now they look like impact options rather than automatic starters.
Defensive reshuffle on the cards
At the back, the Charlton win gave De Zerbi a look at his depth. Now comes the decision: stick or twist.
Antonin Kinsky is expected to keep his place in goal. In front of him, Pedro Porro, used from the bench in midweek, is poised to come back into the XI at right-back, likely at the expense of Archie Gray. In central defence, Micky van de Ven is pushing hard to return and could partner fellow Dutchman Jan Paul van Hecke, a pairing built on recovery pace and front-foot defending.
On the left, Andrew Robertson is currently favoured over Destiny Udogie. Experience, delivery, leadership – in a game that could swing on fine margins, those traits matter.
If De Zerbi goes with that back four, it sends a clear message: control the flanks, step high, and trust the centre-backs to live one-on-one when Newcastle break.
Savio stakes his claim
Up front, the picture has shifted quickly.
Savio came off the bench against Charlton and lit up the tie, scoring one and assisting another on his debut. Performances like that don’t go unnoticed, and he is in line to be rewarded with a start on the right of a front three.
Richarlison should again lead the line, a focal point who needs a statement league performance, while Mathys Tel offers movement and unpredictability from the left. Without Maddison and with several creative players missing, that front trio will be asked not just to finish chances, but to create them through sheer intensity.
New loan signing Omar Marmoush, whose move from Manchester City was confirmed on Thursday, is expected to start on the bench. His time will come, but De Zerbi is unlikely to rip up his attacking structure for a player who has only just walked through the door.
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 is set for 17:30 on Saturday, 29 August 2026, with live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.
Spurs have already shown what they can do when the shackles come off in the cup. The real question now: can De Zerbi’s patched-up side turn that spark into something more permanent against Premier League opposition that will punish any hesitation?
