Newcastle and Everton face each other for the second time in five days, with this Premier League meeting particularly key for the hosts after they were thumped in midweek.
Match News and Current Form
Newcastle’s exit from the EFL Cup in midweek at least allows them to place full focus on the Premier League, where they start the round in the top eight after last week’s 2-0 win at Crystal Palace. Boss Matthias Jaissle had been under pressure after overseeing defeats in three of their prior four league outings (W1), although the Magpies are still two points better off than the same stage of last season. Returning to form at home, where they were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa last time out, is far from a foregone conclusion here either as Newcastle have lost 21 of their last 32 Monday-held Premier League games (W7, D4), losing both this season by a 4-1 scoreline!
Everton sit a point behind their hosts here having lost their last two league outings, and could now suffer three successive Premier League defeats under David Moyes for the first time since October 2011. The Scotsman was dealt a blow in midweek with Jack Grealish left out of the squad due to disciplinary reasons, but he’ll hope a spirited response will trigger a turnaround in their away form. The Toffees have failed to win their last nine league outings on the road (D5, L4) since winning last season’s corresponding fixture, only suffering a longer such run under Moyes in their final 11 trips of the 2003/04 campaign!
Head-to-Head History
Newcastle were beaten 3-1 by Everton in the EFL Cup on Thursday night, with the Magpies also winning just one of the last six Premier League H2Hs (D2, L3). Everton have won their last two league visits to Newcastle, but have never previously managed three on the spin.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Newcastle have faced a pre-round league-high 138 shots this season.
Just two of Newcastle’s eight league fixtures this term stood goalless at half-time.
Everton have won just one of the last 21 Premier League games they went 1-0 down in (D7, L13).
Everton’s league matches this season have produced a pre-round joint league-low four first-half goals.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Jacob Murphy has scored in two of his last five league H2Hs against Everton and registered his 31st Premier League assist for Newcastle last week - only two players have ever managed more for the Magpies in this competition. Thierno Barry scored and assisted in midweek and has now seen four of his last five Everton strikes arrive between the 55th and 70th minutes.
Lewis Miley and Matias Fernandez-Pardo have missed Newcastle’s last two games. It remains to be seen whether Everton will recall Grealish, while Jarrad Branthwaite has been absent for their last two matches with concussion.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Despite their recent H2H returns, it’s hard to back Everton on the road, so a Newcastle win and both teams to score holds plenty of appeal here.
Author: Ryan Fisher
