Full Time: Newcastle United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur scraped past Newcastle United 2-1 in their opening fixture to begin the new Premier League season in a positive fashion. The visitors took an early lead in the eighth minute through defender Jan Vertonghen, when goal-line technology confirmed that the ball had crossed the line.
Newcastle responded fairly quickly when Matt Ritchie delivered sumptuous cross for Joselu to score from point-blank range with no defensive marking. Spurs hit back immediately, as Serge Aurier picked out Dele Alli with an incisive cross-field ball. The Englishman beat De Andre Yedlin in the air and scored via a header across the goal.
Tottenham Player Ratings
Hugo Lloris (7)
Made a crucial save early in the second half to deny Kenedy, but was helpless to stop the Newcastle equaliser. All in all, didn’t have to do too much throughout the game.
Serge Aurier (7.5)
Could not stop Joselu from ghosting ahead of him to score the goal but he made up for that with an imperious cross-field ball to find Alli, who restored Spurs’ lead. A steady display from the Frenchman.
Davinson Sanchez (8)
Sanchez was at the heart of Tottenham’s high-line, making interceptions at crucial moments. He assisted Vertonghen for the team’s first goal but could have done better to stop the equaliser.
Jan Vertonghen (8.5)
Scored the opening goal and looked at home throughout the game. Showed no signs of World Cup fatigue, which is incredible, to say the least.
Ben Davies (7)
A work-man like performance from the Welshman without too much end-product from an attacking point of view. He should have done better to stop Ritchie from crossing the ball in for Newcastle’s equaliser.
Eric Dier (6.5)
He won most of the midfield battles and virtually stopped Ayoze Perez throughout the game. However, he lost possession at times.
Moussa Sissoko (7)
Sissoko was active in the midfield, winning duels and pushing forward into the box. A handy performance from the former Newcastle man.
Christian Eriksen (6)
Eriksen tried to create chances throughout the game but his deliveries were off the radar on most occasions. The Dane will improve as the season progresses.
Dele Alli (7)
Alli put in the hard yards and deserved a trademark headed goal to restore the lead for Spurs. He could have had his second had Eriksen picked him out early in the second half.
Lucas Moura (5.5)
Moura was underwhelming in the game. The Brazilian couldn’t impress the boss after getting the nod ahead of Heung-Min Son and Erik Lamela.
Harry Kane (6)
Worked hard to play for the team by coming deep to recieve possession but the England captain was ineffective in and around the Newcastle box.
Substitutes
Mousa Dembele (6) (Subbed on after 68 mins)
Came on to replace a sub-par Moura to add steel and solidity in the midfield.
Heung-Min Son (N/A) (Subbed on after 81 mins)
Replaced Alli late in the game but couldn’t do much in the very little time he got.
Read More: No signings, no problem: Tottenham can still challenge for the Premier League title
Luke Amos (N/A) (Subbed on after 88 mins)
Big moment for the youngster as he made his Spurs debut at the expense of a limping Eric Dier.
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