Ben & Rob's preview - Newcastle

Join the pair and some special guests for our popular pre-match show pitchside from the stadium on SPURSPLAY from 3.25pm tomorrow.

Rob Daly

"One of the benefits of this time of the season, and I go back to the loss at Sporting, as well, is that you do have a quick opportunity to rectify what you might feel was a disappointing performance. I'm sure the players involved at Old Trafford will be happy to back in action quickly. Of course, home form as been absolutely pivotal this season and, in all competitions, it's 10 wins in a row in N17. In terms of Newcastle, they had a pretty flat start, only won one of their first seven league games, but they've picked up form and three wins in four has shot them up the table. Miguel Almiron is in super form, brilliant goal in the week to beat Everton. Bruno Guimaraes is looking better and better, his ability to play the right weight of pass is exceptional, and he's proving an inspired bit of business by Newcastle. There are a couple of notable absentees, Alain St Maximin, Eddie Howe is also concerned about Joelinton, who has evolved from a striker into an all-action midfielder, but he came off against Everton in midweek. One more thing to note from Newcastle's season, Kieran Trippier's set piece delivery has been very. very good, but everyone at Spurs will be well aware of his quality. In terms of Spurs, it's so disappointing to hear that Dejan Kulusevski isn't ready, Richarlison is also out. It's so easy to focus on the negatives of players missing, but the majority of the squad is fit, the spine with Kane and Son, Hojbjerg and Bentancur, Romero and Dier and Lloris, who was outstanding at Old Trafford. Last season we saw a demolition of Newcastle, 5-1, a turn around performance after going 1-0 down. Four of the goals that day came from wide areas, with the wing-backs playing such an important role, crosses causing all sorts of problems, so let's see if Spurs can repeat that trick on Sunday."

Ben Haines

"United... okay, not a great night at the office. We didn’t play well, and it wasn’t a good reflection of where we currently are. I'm always desperate to see us go and take a game to teams on the road and for whatever reason we couldn’t get going. The good news is, right now, we are a dominant force at home, we’re in brilliant form at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and bouncing back is something this team does incredibly well, as we saw after a couple of difficult games last month. One more thing I think it’s important that we talk about before we move on - Hugo Lloris. What a performance... incredible saves and true leadership. I think if United don’t get the deflection and thus the breakthrough we could have easily walked away with a point and be sat here talking about one of his greatest ever performances in a Spurs shirt. Turning to Newcastle, they have been very good this season, stubborn at the back and starting to show really exciting flashes moving forward. We have to talk about Miguel Almiron's finish in midweek and, actually, his form in general, excellent technical ability, works hard and drifts into incredibly dangerous areas. They haven’t lost since August and a big part of that has been down to how good they’ve been at the back. Botman was a brilliant signing as, of course, was Kieran Trippier, his experience and leadership has been vital for Newcastle and we all know the quality he brings. This is going to be one of Antonio Conte’s toughest starting XI's of the season to pick. Do you stick with the three in midfield? Lucas Moura is gaining fitness and will be pushing for a place, Emerson Royal is back from suspension and will be itching to get his spot back, Ryan Sessegnon is another player really pushing and not forgetting Oliver Skipp, who has been quietly going about regaining fitness."