Everton will look to snap their winless rut when they make the trip to St. James’ Park to face a depleted Newcastle United in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
Newcastle United face Everton on Tuesday in one of the first of the midweek slate of Premier League games this week. The Magpies kept their hopes of European football next season alive with a sensational 4-3 comeback victory over West Ham United in last Saturday’s early kick-off.
With 13 minutes of normal time left, Newcastle were 3-1 behind. But they produced a stunning comeback to take all three points and send Gallowgate End into limbs. They moved to within a point of seventh-placed West Ham and sit 13 points behind Tottenham Hotspur, who sit in the Europa League places.
Everton, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. Seamus Coleman’s last-gasp own goal gave the Cherries a dramatic win. The result leaves the Toffees, who have not won in the Premier League since December 16, in 16th position, three points above 18th-placed Luton Town after they replaced Nottingham Forest in the bottom three after the weekend’s results.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Anthony Gordon was the man of the match of Newcastle United’s dramatic 4-3 comeback win over West Ham on Saturday, winning both penalties cleverly. However, he picked up a late red card on Saturday, which means he will miss the chance to face his former club, while Miguel Almiron was forced off just ten minutes after being introduced off the bench due to a hamstring issue.
All things are set up perfectly for Harvey Barnes to come back into the Newcastle side after his sensational heroics late on against West Ham at the weekend, with Jacob Murphy set to start on the opposite flank, and Alexander Isak down the middle.
At the back, Sven Botman is out for the season, and fellow defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Valentino Livramento picked up injuries in the West Ham United clash and are also set to miss out here. Lewis Hall came on at left-back after Livramento’s injury, and he immediately took the impressive Mohammed Kudus out of the game.
He was strong in the tackle, showed quality on the ball, made some lovely runs, and was assertive and positive in everything he did, successfully pushing his way back into Hall’s mind. Captain Kieran Trippier could make his return at right-back.
Elliot Anderson had a similar impact and injected life and physicality into the side. He could replace the rusty Joe Willock in the engine room alongside Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes, with Joelinton and Lewis Miley out with injuries.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Anderson; Murphy, Isak, Barnes
Everton
With no fresh injury worries following the trip to Bournemouth, Arnaut Danjuma and Lewis Dobbin are expected to be Everton’s only notable absentees.
Sean Dyche has a number of potential selection posers for the trip to Newcastle United on Tuesday night after Everton equalled their club record of going 12 Premier League games without winning. The Blues boss could be tempted to shuffle his pack.
Vitaliy Mykolenko, who has arguably been the squad’s most-improved player this term compared to last season, missed the fixture on the south coast through illness. But he could return at left-back here.
A recall for Mykolenko could see Ben Godfrey miss out then. Captain Seamus Coleman could also drop out after the 35-year-old netted the Cherries’ winner with a stoppage time own goal in what was his third game of the week after playing the full 180 minutes in the Republic of Ireland’s March friendlies.
The right-back berth is the one area on the pitch where Everton have plenty of options, given that Ashley Young and Nathan Patterson are also both available. There are also increased available numbers in central midfield, with the fit-again Andre Gomes coming on for Abdoulaye Doucoure against Bournemouth.
Another more defence-minded choice in the engine room is Idrissa Gueye, who was on the bench on Saturday but could potentially replace either James Garner or Amadou Onana. Up front against Bournemouth, Dominic Calvert-Lewin started for the first time since the 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in late February. But with his goalless run now stretching to 23 matches, Beto could be pushing for a recall after he netted for the fifth time this term.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Onana, Gueye, Doucoure, McNeil; Beto
Key Stats
- The Toffees are three points above the relegation zone and without a victory in 12 matches.
- Newcastle United have scored two or more goals in seven of their past ten home matches.
- The Magpies have not lost any of their last four home matches, winning six of the last 10 games at St. James’ Park.
- Everton have conceded two or more goals in six of their last ten away matches.
- Alexander Isak has struck in each of his last three Premier League outings.
Player to Watch
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak once again came up clutch for the Toon with a brace and assist to help Newcastle United seal an incredible 4-3 fightback win over West Ham last time out. The Arsenal-linked striker was a real attacking threat throughout, and he always tried to get involved by dropping deep and linking up play.
The Swede has now produced 14 goals and an assist in just 21 Premier League games this season. With willing runners in Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes on the wings, Isak could be a real menace for Everton’s backline here.
Prediction
Newcastle United 2-0 Everton
Everton are in desperate need of three points as the situation in Merseyside looks far from comfortable. Another defeat here, and Dyche’s side will be pulled further into the relegation quagmire. Their performances have been very inconsistent, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure have not exactly hit top form since returning from injuries.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, will have some wind in their sails after a stunning come-from-behind victory last time out. That should give Eddie Howe’s injury-ravaged squad huge confidence, and they can kick-start a late run for lower-tier European spots with another victory here.