‘Best in the world’ - Major claim made after Newcastle United win over Champions League rivals Spurs

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp described St James Park as ‘formidable’ as Newcastle United demolished Champions League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

Another sell-out crowd was on hand to watch Eddie Howe’s side give a significant boost to their hopes of returning to European football’s elite next season with a stunning first-half display.

Roared on from the first minute when Jacob Murphy fired United in front, the Magpies punished their shell-shocked visitors with a clinical display that gave them a five-goal lead by the time the half-time whistle had been blown.

Joelinton made it two on six minutes before Murphy doubled his own tally with a stunning long-range effort moments later. A well-taken brace from Alexander Isak sent the St James Park faithful into further raptures as supporters on both sides struggled to assess what they had witnessed at the interval. Harry Kane momentarily reduced the arrears for the bewildered visitors four minutes into the second-half but it was Callum Wilson that had the final say in the game as he came off the bench to restore his side’s five-goal advantage with just over 20 minutes remaining.

As has become custom in home games, the Magpies players took the acclaim of their supporters and received a spine tingling ovation that led United midfielder Joe Willock to hail St James Park as ‘the best stadium in the world’.

He told Sky Sports: “It’s amazing. I feel like we have the best stadium in the world, we’ve got the best fans in the world. It was a terrific performance. We are all really happy.”

Former Spurs star Redknapp also lauded the performance on and off the park at Gallowgate and believes the ‘power’ of the Magpies home will continue playing a significant role in the push for a Champions League place.

He said: “It just has that feeling right now, that composure they are playing with. Right now, this is a place you don’t want to be coming and playing against Newcastle. We see what it did to Manchester United, it was too much for them. Tottenham couldn’t live with the energy they played with. Plus they got the power of the people with the fans here. It’s like a place that will be formidable for years to come but right now, it looks like the Champions League will be here next season.”