Glenn Hoddle
Former England and Tottenham manager on TNT Sports

The real problem Spurs could have is that space in behind might be exploited by the pace of Newcastle.

We're under way in north London, west London and Merseyside.

Shay Given
Former Newcastle and Man City keeper on TNT Sports

It's not great. I do like the front three Eddie Howe has gone with tonight. He has gone with a lot of pace.

If they can soak up pressure then they are going to be so quick on the counter. They need to get back to winning ways and get that belief back.

Image source, EPA

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

It all started when Leeds nearly got a draw against Man City in November 2025. Since then, they have looked a decent Premier League side.

The win on Friday night against Nottingham Forest was massive for Elland Road. It has given them a cushion and I think Daniel Farke deserves credit for the way he has turned things around.

There was a lot of talk that he wasn't going to surprise this season.

Shay Given
Former Newcastle and Man City keeper on TNT Sports

The start is hugely important.

Newcastle have got plenty of players on the bench so maybe Eddie Howe is thinking to frustrate Tottenham and then hit them on the break.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

This is a game between a team that can't win at home, and a team that can't win away.

The two records mirror each other, Spurs have played 12 games at home in the league, they have won two and lost six. The same applies to Newcastle's away games.

I have been to Spurs a lot this season and on many occasions you come away thinking 'He can't survive that', but he is still there.

This is a big game for both sides and both managers.

Nick Woltemade has now gone eight games without a goal after netting four in his first five and Eddie Howe is in desperate need of his £69m man to start firing again.

But Howe admitted his attack has "not quite functioned fully yet" as he attempts to bed his summer signings "into the team format".

"Nick has done everything with such a great attitude," he said. "That's the biggest thing, for me, that means he will continue to be successful."

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United are one of two sides, along with Brighton, among the current bottom eight to have beaten Chelsea this season. That was a 3-1 victory for the Whites under the lights at Elland Road in December, and they made it five wins from five in night games at home this season by beating Nottingham Forest on Friday.

Manager Daniel Farke, who was understandably delighted with "a massive performance and a massive win", took four points from his two previous meetings with Rosenior when the latter was in charge at Hull City in the 2023-24 Championship season.

However, Leeds have only won two of their past 25 Premier League away fixtures – both against Wolves, in March 2023 and September this season.

They have seven away points this season from 12 games. Only Wolves and Burnley have a worse away record, and Leeds have earned a lower proportion of their points on the road than any other side in the division.

Tim Krul
Former Newcastle goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Eddie Howe is the first one to admit that the results have not been nowhere near good enough. The schedule has been relentless - this is a critical time. Clearly they have not been winning enough games. The trick is to keep everyone fit. The midfield tonight, Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are The Three Musketeers and they're not fit tonight.

Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think winning trophies there then becomes a lot of expectation. The club and board have not helped Eddie Howe as well as they wanted to in the summer. Alexander Isak going and the drama that unfolded. The players that have come in have not lived up to the expectation of what they hoped and wanted.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to TNT Sports: "I think we're in a good run of results. We are doing quite well lately - Everton is always a difficult one for us. It is going to be a challenging one.

"They have been good away and at home. There is a reason why they're high in the table. They're always good defensively and we have to be clinical today and be really solid.

"Everton have done the same with a couple of changes."

There is no denying that the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a massive blow for Leeds.

The England international has spearheaded the Yorkshire club's quest for survival this season with a return of 10 goals in 23 Premier League games.

On Friday night, he netted in a 3-1 home win against Nottingham Forest to reach double figures for the first time in the Premier League since the 2020-21 season.

In his absence, Lukas Nmecha has big shoes to fill as he is handed just a seventh start of the campaign.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

It is a curious scene at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade are deep in conversation as they warm up with the rest of Newcastle United’s substitutes in the rain.

All the while, just a couple of yards away, Newcastle United’s starting forwards are taking shots at goal after head coach Eddie Howe opted not to line up with a recognised striker.

It is a bold call from Howe to leave his £124m summer signings on the bench.

But Woltemade and Wissa have scored just five goals between them since the start of December.

Such has been the relatively low bar on the road, the recalled Anthony Gordon impressed through the middle as he fired Newcastle in front at Anfield in their last away league game.

He also has a fine record against Spurs - and Howe needs him to deliver tonight.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at the London Stadium

Frank Ilett did not imagine in October 2024, when he vowed not to get his hair cut until his favourite club Manchester United won five games in a row that we would be here, 17 months later, still waiting.

Until Michael Carrick took over until the end of the season following Ruben Amoim's dismissal in January, United had not even come close.

Amorim had one sequence of three wins in a row that earned him the October manager of the month prize, but other than that, Ilett's hair remained safe.

Carrick has changed that. He might not have been keen to talk about it - his kids told him about the challenge - ahead of the game but if his side deliver a fifth straight win at the London Stadium this evening, Ilett can book a trip to the barbers.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank speaking to TNT Sports: "I think it was the first 30 minutes very good and then the red card changed the scenario. I think the boys showed great determination and desire. It is tough but we need to go again. That's life.

"I feel that there is definitely moments when it feels like 'now we go' but then also things hit us. You never know when you turn the corner and it could be tonight.

"He is so passionate and has aggression. It is something he needs to look into. He needs to work on that.

"There is no doubt it will be a high-paced game. Both teams are aggressive. We need to start fast.

"It is nice to see Dragusin on the pitch and it is super important. It is good to have Djed (Spence) on the pitch now Destiny (Udogie) is out. We need to dig in and keep finding solutions."

Image source, Getty Images

Keep an eye out for Tottenham's special warm-up top this evening.

As part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, Spurs have unveiled a special edition pre-match top designed by a Chinese artist to mark the Year of the Horse.

Lovely stuff if you ask me!

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at the London Stadium

Nuno Espirito Santo makes one change to the West Ham side that won at Burnley on Saturday, with midfielder Freddie Potts coming in for striker Callum Wilson, who drops to the bench.

West Ham are looking for a fourth win in five games, which would move them level on points with fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest, who entertain bottom side Wolves tomorrow. It would take a four-goal triumph for West Ham to move out of the bottom three tonight.

West Ham XI: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Bowen, Potts, Soucek, Mateus Fernandes, Summerville, Castellanos. Substitutes: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Kante, Mayers.

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick names the same starting line-up for the third game running.

With Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt still sidelined, there are no changes to the United bench either, with Tyler Fletcher named again after making his senior debut against Tottenham at the weekend.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo. Substitutes: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Malacia, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, T Fletcher.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Is it possible for both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United to somehow come away with nothing tonight?

Just as injury-hit Spurs have only won two league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, remarkably, travel sick Newcastle have an identical record on the road.

Something has to give tonight. Surely.

Spurs manager Thomas Frank repeatedly used the word “desperate” on the eve of this game as he targets a first top-flight win of 2026.

It is also a big night for opposite number Eddie Howe.

The Newcastle head coach said there was “no doubt in my mind” that he was the right man for the job after his side were booed off at the weekend following just one win in eight games.

Do not underestimate the psychological impact a victory for either side would have given their recent form.

It has the feel of a six-pointer for two Champions League teams who are not where they want to be in the Premier League right now.

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Like Spurs, Newcastle are a big club at a crossroads in their season. They've suffered three successive league defeats and only won one of their past nine matches, excluding the FA Cup penalty shootout success against Bournemouth.

In the build-up to this game, head coach Eddie Howe said there's "no doubt" in his mind that he's best-placed to restore Newcastle's fortunes.

Newcastle's poor away form – two league wins in 15 attempts on the road – is one of several issues for Howe to fix.