The end of an era: Son Heung-min (£8.5m) waved farewell to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as the Lilywhites and Newcastle United drew 1-1.
There’s no time for too much sentiment as Gameweek 1 approaches, though – it’s all about the key takeaways for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.
From a big injury blow for Spurs to a welcome return for the Magpies, here’s what we saw.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED
- Goals: Johnson | Barnes
- Assist: Danso | Gordon
MADDISON INJURY
James Maddison‘s (£7.0m) second appearance of the summer ended in more injury misery.
The midfielder was in trouble not 10 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, being replaced himself shortly afterwards. Maddison had to be stretchered off, later being seen on crutches.
The bad news is that it’s the same knee that plagued him at the end of 2024/25.
“Yeah, it’s like in life, in football. I think sometimes life and football can be brutal, but also sometimes very beautiful. So I think it was brutal what happened to Madders. It looks like a bad injury. Of course, we don’t know exactly the status on it. It didn’t look good.
“We are pretty sure it was the same knee that he had the previous injury in.” – Thomas Frank on James Maddison
Where one door shuts, another one opens. Pape Matar Sarr (£5.0m) started this game in the hole, having bagged three goals in his previous two pre-season outings. Will he get a sustained run in that role now? You’d have to think that Spurs, given how close they were to nabbing Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m), would seriously consider moving for another ’10’ if Maddison is ruled out for a long period. But with Joao Palhinha signing on Sunday night, and Rodrigo Bentancur (£5.5m), Archie Gray (£5.0m) and Lucas Bergvall (£5.5m) already options deeper, perhaps Thomas Frank really does see Sarr’s future further forward.
The Senegalese midfielder registered a decent five touches in the box here, although his only effort came from a set play.
GORDON UP TOP
Both sides were without their main strikers on Sunday, with Alexander Isak‘s (£10.5m) future uncertain and Dominic Solanke (£7.5m) injured. Solanke may be back for the next friendly, which is a good job as Mathys Tel (£6.5m) and Richarlison (£6.5m) weren’t up to much up top. Tel missed an absolute sitter to make it 2-0.
As for Newcastle, Eddie Howe admitted after full-time that “there’s not much time” to get a new striker in – or any new players – ahead of Gameweek 1.
After Will Osula (£5.5m) fluffed his lines in midweek, Anthony Gordon (£7.5m) led the line against Spurs.
He did very well, too, linking up nicely with Harvey Barnes (£6.5m) and Jacob Murphy (£6.5m) on either side of him. Unless Newcastle really get a move on in the transfer market, that may well be the front three at Aston Villa.
Gordon set Barnes on his way for Newcastle’s (well taken) only goal, having come inches away from assisting Joelinton (£6.0m) earlier. Gordon himself went close with two predatory efforts, also seeing a goal chalked off for offside.
Newcastle really need a striker or two, but Gordon isn’t a bad Plan C.
“I thought Anthony did really up front, leading the line. Very pleased with him today.” – Eddie Howe on Anthony Gordon
HALL RETURNS
After remaining unused against Team K League, Lewis Hall (£5.5m) made his first appearance of the summer. It was his first outing since February, indeed.
Hall was only on the field for the final 13 minutes, and judging by Howe’s post-match comments, it may be Kieran Trippier (£5.0m) and Tino Livramento (£5.0m) at full-back in Gameweek 1.
“Massive. I mean, what a player to get back into our ranks. He’ll need a bit of time to get back to his best and we’ll give him that time and try and support him. Today was just a taste for him. He’s worked really hard to get to this point.” – Eddie Howe on Lewis Hall
EVEN CONTEST
It was a fairly even contest in Seoul, with Newcastle maybe just edging it.
Perhaps the two teamsheets explained why. Other than Livramento for Matt Targett (£4.0m) and Sandro Tonali (£5.5m) for Lewis Miley (£4.5m), this might have been the Newcastle team for the opening weekend.
Frank, however, only gave 45 minutes apiece to several of his regulars, such as Pedro Porro (£5.5m), Micky van de Ven (£4.5m) and Cristian Romero (£5.0m). Mohammed Kudus (£6.5m) was also only on the bench.
Brennan Johnson (£7.0m), in Kudus’s right-wing role, issued a ‘don’t forget about me’ plea to his new manager, scoring the game’s opener.
Porro went close with a direct free-kick attempt, while Joelinton missed an easy header from a Bruno Guimaraes (£6.5m) cross. Bruno G was the game’s top creator, with four key passes.
Newcastle United XI:Â Pope (Gillespie 82), Trippier (Hall 77), Targett (Livramento 62), Schar (Krafth 82), Burn, Guimaraes, L. Miley, Joelinton (Hernes 87), J. Murphy (Park 77), Gordon (Osula 62), Barnes (Elanga 82).Â
Tottenham Hotspur XI:Â Kinsky, Porro (Spence 46), Danso, Romero (van de Ven 46), Davies (Vuskovic 80), Bentancur (Bergvall 46), Gray (Maddison 75 [Yang 86]), Sarr (Bissouma 62), Johnson (Odobert 75), Tel (Richarlison 62), Son (Kudus 65).
