Omar Marmoush and Pedro Porro impress, while Sandro Tonali and Roberto De Zerbi face scrutiny after Newcastle defeat.
Tottenham Hotspur’s early-season Premier League campaign suffered another setback on Saturday evening as Roberto De Zerbi’s side fell to a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Coming off a 5-1 midweek Carabao Cup victory over Charlton Athletic, Spurs failed to carry momentum back into domestic league action, succumbing to second-half goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoanne Wissa. Following their opening-weekend 3-0 loss to Brentford, Tottenham remain winless and goalless in the Premier League. These are the winners and losers from a frustrating night in North London.
Winners
Omar Marmoush: Arriving on loan from Manchester City, the Egyptian international delivered an encouraging full debut in front of the home crowd. Leading the frontline with directness and energy, Marmoush grew into the match as the first half progressed. He created space with clever movement, dragged a long-range effort wide in the second half, and tested Newcastle goalkeeper Hornicek with a well-struck volley late on. On a night where Spurs struggled for sharp execution, Marmoush showed the movement and technical quality De Zerbi needs from his dynamic central forward.
Pedro Porro: Deployed in an advanced role on the right flank, the Spanish international was Tottenham’s most consistent attacking threat throughout the ninety minutes. Porro constantly pushed forward, seeing an early shot deflected over the crossbar before forcing a flying second-half save from Hornicek. His defensive work ethic and willingness to drive play down the right wing provided Tottenham with their main spark, proving his versatility in De Zerbi’s tactical system.
Mohammed Kudus: Introduced as a second-half substitute to a standing ovation, the Ghanaian playmaker made his long-awaited return after almost eight months out with injury. While understandably lacking match sharpness in his final delivery, Kudus immediately demonstrated his ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations. His successful return to action offers De Zerbi much-needed squad depth and tactical variation ahead of a demanding schedule.
Losers
Sandro Tonali: A nightmarish performance against his former club that severely damaged Tottenham’s midfield balance. Facing persistent boos from the visiting supporters, Tonali set a negative tone early by playing a loose pass that forced Micky van de Ven into a yellow card after just two minutes. His evening went from bad to worse in the second half; he was easily turned by Anthony Elanga for Newcastle’s opening goal and later played Yoanne Wissa onside for their second. It was a thoroughly disjointed outing from the Italian international.
Destiny Udogie: Introduced off the bench in the second half to provide defensive stability and energy, Udogie instead struggled to adapt to the speed of the match. His failure to contend with Nick Woltemade at the back post allowed the Newcastle substitute to head across goal for Yoanne Wissa’s tap-in, putting the game out of Tottenham’s reach. His passive defending highlighted ongoing vulnerability in Spurs’ set-piece setup.
Roberto De Zerbi: After securing a midweek cup victory against Charlton, De Zerbi saw his side revert to passive patterns against high-quality Premier League opposition. His tactical choices failed to unpick Newcastle’s defensive structure, while his team has now gone consecutive league matches without scoring a single goal. With key players like Savio sidelined by fatigue and squad registration constraints forcing outgoings, De Zerbi faces growing pressure to steady the ship before the upcoming trip to Nottingham Forest.
