Tottenham come into this one off the back of a scrappy 2-2 with Hoffenheim in a friendly, but that result tells you nothing about the Premier League version of this side. The real signal is the opening-day defeat at Brentford — a game where Spurs were poor in transition, caught between pressing high and dropping off, and punished for it. That is the worry. But look closer: this is a team that creates chances for fun at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the expected lineup — Kinsky; Gray, van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Tonali, Mateus Fernandes; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison — has real balance. Tonali sitting in front of the back four, Gallagher buzzing in the half-spaces, Tel and Richarlison stretching the pitch. That is a side built to dominate possession and hurt you on the break.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are still finding their attacking rhythm. The 2-2 with Liverpool at St James' Park was a decent point, but it exposed the same old issues: they pressed high, got played through, and needed a late rally to salvage it. Under Matthias Jaissle, the 4-3-3 is taking shape, but the absentee list is a problem — Livramento and Joelinton are both out, and that robs them of real thrust down the right and that midfield muscle. The forward line is a question mark too: Will Osula, Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade are fighting for two spots, and Woltemade has been struggling regardless of position. That is not the profile of a side that comes to North London and takes all three points. Momentum is with Spurs, especially at home, where the crowd will demand a response after that Brentford slip.