Alexander Isak scored twice to surpass the 20-goal mark as Newcastle United bolstered their European aspirations with a convincing 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
The Magpies’ record signing, at £63 million, showcased his prowess with two exceptional finishes, complemented by Anthony Gordon’s goal and Fabian Schar’s late thunderous header at St James’ Park.
This win marked Newcastle’s third victory in four Premier League matches, ending fourth-placed Spurs’ three-game unbeaten streak. While not as dramatic as last season’s 6-1 triumph, the result was equally emphatic.
Eddie Howe’s tactical approach, designed to absorb pressure and counterattack, was executed to perfection, exposing Tottenham’s vulnerabilities, especially defender Micky van de Ven, who had a forgettable outing.
Both teams wore black armbands in memory of former Newcastle boss and Tottenham defender Joe Kinnear, who passed away last weekend. Early on, Gordon posed a threat, and Elliot Anderson had a header blocked in the third minute.
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However, Spurs settled into the game, and with seven minutes gone, Rodrigo Bentancur set up Brennan Johnson, whose cross was volleyed wide by Timo Werner. The visitors’ threat continued, with Martin Dubravka saving Werner’s shot and Son Heung-min’s follow-up.
Dubravka was relieved to see Werner miss a chance from close range in the 18th minute. However, Newcastle took the lead on the half-hour mark when Gordon capitalized on a mistake by Destiny Udogie to set up Isak for a clinical finish.
Two minutes later, Gordon intercepted a back pass from Pedro Porro, rounded Van de Ven, and scored, doubling Newcastle’s lead.
Van de Ven made crucial interventions to deny Isak, but the Swedish striker extended the lead early in the second half, collecting Bruno Guimaraes’ pass to score his second goal.
Despite pressure from Tottenham, including a chance for Maddison and a save by Vicario from Anderson, Newcastle comfortably managed their lead. Schar completed the rout with a powerful header from Gordon’s corner in the 87th minute.