Relegation-threatened Newcastle travel to top four challengers Everton

Everton host Newcastle United at Goodison park in a game which has huge significance at both ends of the Premier League table.

The hosts are one of the inform sides in the Premier League having lost just once in eight league matches, winning five. Manager Carlo Ancelotti is getting the best out of his side, even with key absentees in midfield.

On Wednesday night against top four challengers Leicester, Everton squandered 1-0 lead slip, due to a goalkeeping error from Jordan Pickford. Ancelotti’s side will be looking to get back on track with a win to move them back into fifth place, with their sights firmly on the top four.

Newcastle on the other hand are at the bottom of the form guide table, losing their last five Premier League matches with the last win coming in early December. Their most recent result a 2-1 home defeat against Leeds United in midweek. The Magpies are struggling and find themselves just six points from Fulham in 18^th, who have a game in hand on the teams around them.

After their meeting earlier in the season at St James’ Park, a match which Newcastle emerged victorious in, Steve Bruce’s side were sitting around mid table in the Premier League. Now just two points gained from the last 27 available has increased the pressure on the former Aston Villa boss.

Newcastle will have to watch out for the aerial threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison cutting in off the left, as well as James Rodriguez. The Columbian has four goals and three assists since joining the Blues, all of which have come at Goodison.

Callum Wilson has been the main man for Newcastle this season. With the long-term absence of Allan Saint-Maximin, the Englishmen has carried the Newcastle attack with eight goals and four assists. Steve Bruce will be hoping he adds to his tally this weekend.

Team News

Everton will welcome back Abdoulaye Doucoure into midfield, who missed the midweek draw with Leicester through suspension. The Toffees are still without Allan, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin.

Carlo announced in his press conference “Allan and Gbamin would start training next week, whilst Delph started training with the team this week, but the game would come too soon”.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce will be without centre back Federico Fernandez, who misses out with a muscle problem. Fabian Schar reported soreness after the Leeds game but is expected to play. Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett will be monitored before the game but the game against Everton could come too soon for the pair. DeAndre Yedlin is back in contention with his work permit issue now resolved.

Steve Bruce is left with a big decision on whether to start his key man Allan Saint-Maximin. The winger has only featured as a substitute in the last two games since his return from a lengthy absence with Covid-19.

Last time out

The two sides faced each other back in November at St James’s Park with Newcastle coming away with a 2-1 victory. A double from striker Callum Wilson gave the hosts a 2-0 lead with five minutes left, before a stoppage time goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin set up a nervous finish.

Last season’s meeting at Goodison saw an incredible ending to the game. Everton, who had dominated the game, took the lead on the half hour through Moise Kean. Calvert-Lewin doubled the lead just before the hour mark.

With the clock hitting 90 many Everton fans were heading to the exit happy with the win. But all was not over when Florian Lejeune scored what looked to be a consolation goal in the fourth minute of injury time.

Seconds later Newcastle found themselves inside the Everton penalty area again. The ball fell to Lejeune’s feet and he made no mistake scoring his second, and levelling the game at 2-2 in the fifth minute of stoppage time, leaving Newcastle fans ecstatic and Everton fans in shock.

Everton have not beaten Newcastle at Goodison Park since 2018 with both games ending in draws. Can the Magpies come away from Merseyside with a win to complete the double over the Toffees this season?