Pedro equalises for Brighton from spot against Arsenal
Man City hit four against West Ham
Palace draw with Chelsea; Bournemouth beat Everton
Brentford thrash Southampton; Villa beat Leicester
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Spurs would be foolish to sack Ange mid-season. They've been decimated by injuries, but they're in really good shape in all the cups. It would be cool to see them prioritise the cups in the second half of the season.
Ben, Leeds
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports: "It has been a good run and we needed it. When you have a congested spell positive momentum is crucial. We managed to win those early games and carry that confidence through."
On Sven Botman's return: "He is an outstanding player. When we lost him it was a bleak moment for us. He was a stalwart in the backline. He has done a lot of training and he is ready to play. Sven deserves to play."
On Newcastle midfield: "They have been really good, Sandro [Tonali] brings a real energy and speed to our midfield. Our defensive record has improved because of our midfield balance. We are getting closer to our best. We are happy with where we are, but we want more."
On Alexander Isak: "He is one of the best strikers in the league. He is getting a lot of headlines - we ask him to do a lot."
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Followed Spurs for over 50 years - this has to be one of the weakest sides we've ever fielded.
Leigh, Swansea
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
England
Image source, Rex FeaturesNew England boss Thomas Tuchel has chosen this game as his first scouting mission since officially taking charge of the Three Lions on Wednesday.
England start their World Cup qualifying campaign on 21 March at home to Albania but will any of the players on show today be part of the Tuchel era?
James Maddison missed out on making the cut for Euro 2024 but has since scored eight times in the Premier League and provided another four assists.
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon made one substitute appearance - in the 89th minute - at last summer's Euros under Gareth Southgate.
Will he be a key player under Tuchel?
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Tottenham supporters want one simple thing - to win a major trophy.
The problem is that they now feel further away than ever, given a drastic downturn in results across December, a month where they have suffered a lot of injuries.
The next few games could be pivotal in keeping the season alive under an increasingly under-fire manager Ange Postecgolou.
A match at home to Newcastle is followed by the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Ange Postecoglou tells TNT Sports that Fraser Forster is "bed-ridden" and has "not been well the last few days".
He says Son Heung-min's absence from the starting XI is down to "selection" and Tottenham's busy fixture programme.
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Laurie: As a fan of 61 years, I love the Ange approach and style of play, after the dire offerings under Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte. The squad has been decimated by injuries yet the style of play has not changed and the players are still playing for the manager and the club.
It would be futile to change the manager so let him stay until the end of the season and see what we have to show for his efforts.
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Luke Edwards
Daily Telegraph writer on the Football Daily podcast
Tottenham are in trouble and Ange Postecoglou is in trouble. They have become far too predictable for all the wrong reasons.
They are eight points off fifth already and 11 points off fourth.
I know Tottenham have got a lot of injuries but it is starting to look like that Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool (8 January and 6 February) is huge for him now.
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Rex FeaturesTottenham start the weekend closer to the relegation zone than the top four after one win in their past seven Premier League games.
They were three points off the top going into 2024. They're 21 points behind leaders Liverpool going into 2025.
Are Spurs going backwards under Ange Postecoglou?
Football Focus looks ahead to Sunday's clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield.
Former United defender Phil Jones and ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock discuss all the talking points along with Michael Owen - who played for both clubs.
BBC Radio 5 Live
Selhurst Park is the scene for the first of two Premier League live commentaries on 5 Live. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson joins Ian Dennis for the London derby between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at 15:00 GMT.
That is followed by Brighton-Arsenal at 17:30 where former England defender Matt Upson - who played for both teams - is alongside Alistair Bruce-Ball.
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Ange Postecoglou makes five changes to his squad which were last held to a draw against Wolves.
Spurs captain Son Heung-min is named on the bench with Timo Werner named in the starting 11.
Injured Destiny Udogie is replaced by Djed Spence.
Rodrigo Bentancur faces a one-match suspension after collecting his fifth yellow card of the campaign – Lucas Bergvall replaces the Uruguayan. Pape Sarr also replaces Yves Bissouma in midfield.
Fraser Forster is left out of the squad with Brandon Austin making his Premier League debut.
Tottenham XI: Austin; Pedro Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bergvall, Sarr, Kulusevski (c); Johnson, Solanke, Werner.
Subs: Whiteman, Hardy, Dorrington, Reguilon, Bissouma, Olusesi, Maddison, Son, Lankshear
Eddie Howe names two changes to his side who beat Manchester United 2-0.
Newcastle are without the suspended Fabian Schar, but fellow defender Sven Botman returns to the squad for the first time since March.
Kieran Trippier drops to the bench as Tino Livramento starts.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Hall, Burn, Botman, Livramento; Joelinton, Tonali, Guimaraes; Gordon, Isak, Murphy.
Subs: Vlachodimos, Trippier, Barnes, Osula, Almirón, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff, Miley
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Image source, PA MediaTottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says he has "got no problem" with James Maddison going to watch darts despite being unable to start a match because of illness.
The England midfielder was meant to start last Sunday's home game against Wolves but was only deemed well enough to be on the bench. He came on in the 64th minute of their 2-2 draw.
Hours later he was pictured at the World Darts Championship at London's Alexandra Palace - along with team-mate Brennan Johnson.
"I've got no problem with the players having lives," said Postecoglou. "It's a lot different trying to play a game of football and living a life. I don't see any problem with that and I don't think it hurt him.
"He wasn't 100% and it was a game where we needed someone to be 100%. He was still well enough to play. If he was bed-ridden, didn't turn up to the game and then still went to the darts, there may be an issue there. But I had no issue with that."
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
No Fraser Forster for Tottenham while Son Heung-min and James Maddison are on the bench. Brandon Austin makes his Premier League debut in goal.
Sven Botman starts his first Newcastle game since March after recovering from injury.
Full team news coming up.
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I fully expect a goal-fest today at Tottenham - mostly brought to you by Spurs' comedic defence. Isak the destroyer, hat-trick anyone?
Dave, Leicester
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Image source, ReutersLots been made of Tottenham's injury problems but Newcastle have also been missing some important players likes Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth, Sven Botman - as well as their first-choice goalkeeper.
Could Botman be back for the first time since March?
Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesTeam news from our first game of the day is about to drop.
Tottenham have not won a Premier League match in front of their own fans since 3 November.
Meanwhile, Newcastle cannot stop winning.
It could be a lively atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Image source, Getty ImagesAs ever, we'd love your thoughts on this weekend's Premier League action. Is Ange Postecoglou under pressure? Are Manchester United in a relegation scrap? Do Southampton have any hope of staying up?
Which club is going to spend big this month? Will Mo Salah sign a new deal at Liverpool?
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Manchester United, who are away at leaders Liverpool on Sunday (16:30 GMT), will drop to 15th if Crystal Palace beat Chelsea at Selhurst Park. Ruben Amorim's side could be four points from the relegation zone by the end of Monday.
Hello and a belated happy New Year!
While the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United will be glad to see the back of 2024, leaders Liverpool and Nottingham Forest will be looking to carry on from where they left off.
Liverpool are not in action until Sunday so second-placed Arsenal get the chance to move to within three points of Arne Slot's side when they go to Brighton later today.
That's one of seven Premier League games on the first Saturday of 2025.
Tottenham v Newcastle 12:30
Bournemouth v Everton 15:00
Aston Villa v Leicester 15:00
Crystal Palace v Chelsea 15:00
Man City v West Ham 15:00
Southampton v Brentford 15:00
Brighton v Arsenal 17:30
* all times GMT.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 17 | 28 | 45 |
| |
| 20 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 39 | 18 | 21 | 40 |
| |
| 19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 37 |
| |
| 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 24 | 15 | 36 |
| |
| 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 22 | 12 | 35 |
| |
| 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 36 | 27 | 9 | 34 |
| |
| 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 33 |
| |
| 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 32 |
| |
| 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 29 |
| |
| 20 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 28 |
| |
| 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 38 | 35 | 3 | 27 |
| |
| 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 42 | 30 | 12 | 24 |
| |
| 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 39 | -15 | 23 |
| |
| 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 21 | 26 | -5 | 22 |
| |
| 20 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 21 | 28 | -7 | 21 |
| |
| 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 17 |
| |
| 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 42 | -11 | 16 |
| |
| 19 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 33 | -15 | 15 |
| |
| 20 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 44 | -21 | 14 |
| |
| 20 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 44 | -32 | 6 |
|
Manager: Fabian Hürzeler
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Fabian Hürzeler
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Premier League
All competitions
All competitions
Having been unbeaten in five consecutive home league games against Arsenal between 1982 and 2020 (W4 D1), Brighton have now lost three of their last four against the Gunners (D1).
Arsenal have won three of their last five Premier League games against Brighton (D1 L1), as many as they had in their first 10 against the Seagulls in the competition (D3 L4).
Brighton haven’t lost their first league game in any of the last eight calendar years (W3 D5), since a 1-0 home loss to Wolves on New Year’s Day 2016 in the Championship.
Brighton and Hove Albion scored just 21 goals at the Amex in the Premier League in 2024, a drop of 25 goals from 2023 when they scored 46. They failed to score in six home games in 2024, having only failed to score in one in 2023.
No side won more points in the Premier League in 2024 than Arsenal (85). Their 26 wins were their most in one year since 2004 (also 26), their 89 goals were their most since 1963 (112) and their 18 clean sheets were their most since 1999 (19).
Brighton and Hove Albion have drawn their last three Premier League games and are winless in seven (D5 L2). The Seagulls haven’t drawn four league games in a row since October 2014 in the Championship under Sami Hyypia.
In their first 19 Premier League games under Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton have drawn nine times (W6 L4). Only three managers have drawn 10 of their first 20 games in the Premier League – John Lyall in 1992 (11), John Deehan in 1994 (10) and Egil Olsen in 1999 (10).
Kai Havertz has scored in each of his last four Premier League games against Brighton, netting in all three against the Seagulls so far for Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka was directly involved in 28 Premier League goals for Arsenal in 2024 (15 goals, 13 assists), the most by a Gunners player in a single year since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018 (23 goals, 7 assists). Saka’s 13 assists were the most for Arsenal in a year since Mesut Özil assisted 20 goals in 2015.
Since the start of last season, João Pedro has more Premier League goals and assists combined than any other Brighton player (13 goals, 8 assists) – his 13 goals are the most, while his eight assists are bettered only by the now departed Pascal Groß (10).
