Newcastle United boosted their hopes of UEFA Champions League qualification and left Tottenham’s own chances reeling as Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak both scored twice in a 6-1 rout of their top-four rivals.
Murphy struck either side of Joelinton and beat Hugo Lloris as Eddie Howe’s side enjoyed a dream start, racing into a 3-0 lead inside nine minutes at a jubilant St James’ Park.
They were 5-0 up after 21 minutes when Spurs imploded, Isak netting twice to kill any hopes of a comeback from the visitors – who withdrew captain Lloris at half-time.
While Harry Kane pulled one back after the break, Callum Wilson restored Newcastle’s five-goal cushion to move six points clear of Tottenham with a game still to come.
Newcastle needed just 63 seconds to go ahead, Murphy finishing high into the net after Lloris pushed Joelinton’s tame effort straight into his path.
Tottenham showed no signs of being shocked by the goal, Joelinton beating their offside trap, rounding Lloris and finishing into an empty net four minutes later.
Spurs’ start went from bad to worse as they found themselves 3-0 up inside nine minutes, Murphy leaving Lloris stranded as he slotted into the bottom left corner from 25 yards.
Kane shot wide as Spurs looked for a response, but Isak killed the game with his quick-fire double shot to the side after a brilliant Joe Willock sent it in and finished low across the face of the goal two minutes later.
Sean Longstaff almost made it six shortly before the break when Cristian Stellini hooked an errant Lloris in favor of Fraser Forster.
Kane denied Nick Pope a clean sheet with a neat left-footed finish, but Spurs’ penalty was not taken as substitute Wilson slotted home a minute after entering the fray.
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