Everton Vs Newcastle

Everton aims to capitalize on their first Premier League victory of the season as they host Newcastle United at Goodison Park this Saturday. While the Toffees have had a rocky start, Newcastle has been enjoying their best form in the top flight in over a decade.

A Turning Point for Everton

After a disheartening and frustrating opening to the season, Everton finally made a breakthrough last weekend, securing a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace. Following five challenging matches, the Toffees were desperate for a positive result, and they achieved it despite a poor first-half showing. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Everton turned the tide with Dwight McNeil's quick double shortly after the break, marking their first comeback win since October 2022.

While McNeil's performance grabbed the headlines, the return of defender Jarrad Branthwaite was equally crucial, helping Everton to manage the game effectively and maintain their lead—something they struggled with in previous matches. Earlier in the season, they had suffered a humiliating 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth after being two goals up in the 87th minute, and a similar collapse occurred at Villa Park. Despite these setbacks, Branthwaite’s return and the three points against Palace provide some much-needed relief for manager Sean Dyche amid ongoing discussions about a potential club takeover.

Following this victory, Everton has moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this season. However, they risk falling back into the bottom three if they fail to secure points against Newcastle. A home match at Goodison Park could work in their favor, as they have won six of their last eight matches here and accumulated more home points than any other Premier League team since the beginning of April.

Historical Context Against Newcastle

Newcastle United has typically been a favorable opponent for Everton, with the Toffees losing just three of their last 20 home encounters against the Magpies. However, these matches have not been without drama. A memorable moment occurred in 2020 when Newcastle, then under Steve Bruce, salvaged a 2-2 draw thanks to two late goals from Florian Lejeune.

Under current manager Eddie Howe, Newcastle has had mixed results at Goodison. While they secured a convincing 4-1 victory in one encounter, they also suffered a devastating 3-0 defeat last season, with all goals scored in the last ten minutes. Despite Newcastle's previous dominance over Everton—winning five of their last six matches before the previous season—they only managed to earn one point against the Toffees last term, thanks to Dominic Calvert-Lewin's late penalty in their last meeting in April.

Confidence Boost for Newcastle

Despite their recent history with Everton, Newcastle enters this fixture brimming with confidence, having accumulated 11 points from their first six matches—this marks their best start in the Premier League since 2011. That season, Newcastle finished fifth but missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day after a loss to Everton at Goodison Park. Aiming for a top-five finish again this season would certainly be welcomed by supporters in Tyneside.

Newcastle's resilience was evident in their recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City, where they managed to secure a point even without key forward Alexander Isak. This result reinforces the notion that Newcastle is poised to compete for European qualification after falling short in the previous season due to Manchester United's FA Cup victory.

Currently sitting seventh in the league table, Newcastle is level on points with Fulham, who have also enjoyed a strong start to their campaign. Continuing their impressive away form will be crucial in their quest for European football. After a tough end to 2023, where they lost their last four away matches, including one against Liverpool on New Year's Day, the Magpies have rebounded by winning 10 of their last 17 away games across all competitions.

Midweek Challenge

Unlike many teams, Newcastle faced no away trip in midweek, as their EFL Cup match against AFC Wimbledon was relocated to St James' Park due to flooding at the League Two side's stadium. The match ended in a 1-0 victory for Newcastle, courtesy of a penalty from Fabian Schar, allowing them to progress to face Chelsea in the next round. Despite advancing, manager Eddie Howe expressed dissatisfaction with his team's performance, criticizing their lack of creativity in the final third and labeling the match as "instantly forgettable."

Conclusion

As Everton prepares to face Newcastle United at Goodison Park, both teams have a lot at stake. The Toffees aim to build momentum from their recent victory, while Newcastle looks to solidify their strong start to the season. With both teams eager for points, fans can expect a competitive encounter that may add another chapter to their storied rivalry.