Isak and Murphy at double as Newcastle demolish sorry Spurs in first-half blitz

It was the sort of match which prompted more questions than answers. How come Joe Willock has not yet had a senior England call-up? Where on earth would Tottenham be without Harry Kane? Will Cristian Stellini ever risk playing a back four again? And, perhaps most importantly, Newcastle surely cannot blow Champions League qualification now? Can they?

At the end of an astonishing drama featuring two goals apiece from Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak, Eddie Howe’s side rose to third in the Premier League, six points and two places ahead of Spurs, who now have considerable psychological damage to repair.

The visitors started with a back four for the first time since January 2022 but Stellini’s decision to break with Antonio Conte’s old back three fixation soon looked unwise.

Newcastle were ahead after 61 seconds. When the visitors lost the ball in midfield, Joelinton was allowed to saunter into the box as Cristian Romero, his supposed minder, watched admiringly.

When the outstanding Joelinton – surely close to a senior Brazil call-up – eventually shot, Hugo Lloris could only parry into the path of Murphy whose close range effort did the rest.

Not to be eclipsed, Joelinton very swiftly scored a goal of his own. This time Fabian Schär’s superbly lofted, long through ball confounded the visiting defence – Romero in particular – allowing Joelinton to round Lloris before steering the ball into the empty net.

By the ninth minute Howe’s side had scored a third, with Murphy the scorer once more. Once again Schär was the creator, the Switzerland centre-half, dispossessing Son Heung-min before picking Murphy out. After taking a couple of touches he sent a sensational 30-yard shot swerving beyond Lloris.

Even Murphy looked a little