Everton will host Newcastle United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, looking to build on their recent run of form.
Everton are coming into this game vs Newcastle United on the back of consecutive victories over Fulham and Manchester United. The Toffees have kept a clean sheet in both matches, and they will be confident of getting a good result here.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United have been quite inconsistent, and they have lost three of their last five matches in all competitions. Eddie Howe’e men will need to raise their performance levels if they want to get the job done here. Newcastle United are 14th in the Premier League table, and they should be doing a lot better.
It will be interesting to see if the Magpies can grind out a victory away from home. They are a quality team with multiple quality players. The fans will expect a strong reaction from the team here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring), Nathan Patterson (foot), and Merlin Rohl (hernia) remain absent. Additionally, Seamus Coleman picked up a thigh injury earlier this week against Manchester United, while Idrissa Gueye was sent off in the same game.
Everton are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Newcastle United, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Jake O’Brien and Vitaliy Mykolenko will start in the full-back positions. They will look to keep things tight defensively. Michael Keane will start alongside James Tarkowski at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Carlos Alcaraz will start alongside James Garner in the double pivot in the middle of the park, replacing the suspended Gueye. They will look to protect the back four and break down Newcastle United’s attacking moves.
Meanwhile, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil will start on the flanks. They will look to help out during transitions and create opportunities during the break. Jack Grealish will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack. Finally, Thierno Barry will lead the line for Everton vs Newcastle United on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Alcaraz, Garner; Ndiaye, Grealish, McNeil; Barry
Newcastle United
Yoane Wissa has been ruled out with his long-term knee issue, while Harrison Ashby has a hamstring issue. Anthony Gordon and William Osula are doubtful, and they will unlikely feature for the away side this weekend.
Newcastle United will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Everton, with Nick Pope in goal. Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Bruno Guimaraes will start in the centre of the park alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Guimaraes will look to add creativity and control, while Tonali looks to provide defensive cover and physicality. Joelinton will add drive and workrate to the side.
Finally, Nick Woltemade will spearhead the Newcastle United attack vs Everton, with Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes lining up on either side of him on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes
Key Stats
12 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
Both teams have won two games each out of the last six meetings between them.
Newcastle United have lost three of their last six matches in all competitions.
Everton are unbeaten in four of their last six matches in all competitions.
Newcastle have lost their last three Premier League away games, opening the scoring in both of the last two. Only three teams have lost 3+ consecutive away games despite opening the scoring in the competition: Middlesbrough (September 2008), Leicester (October 2022) and Brentford (November 2024).
Player to Watch
Nick Woltemade
Embed from Getty Images
The German striker is our key player to watch out for. Newcastle United will need him to step up and produce a defining performance in the final third if they want to grind out a victory here. Woltemade can help create chances for his teammates and find the back of the net as well.
Newcastle United will need him to make a difference in the final third. It will be interesting to see if he can find a way past the Everton defence. The home team has done well defensively in the last two matches, and they will look to neutralise the threat from the German international.
Prediction
Everton 1-1 Newcastle United
Everton will look to pick up another positive result here, and this will be a close contest. Meanwhile, Newcastle United will have to raise their performance levels if they want to get a good result here.
Both things will look to play for a victory, and it will be difficult to separate them. They are likely to get on the score sheet here, and it is possible that they will end up cancelling each other out. The two teams are likely to share the spoils in a draw.