What a week of Evertonia.
After the early Old Trafford punch-up, the Toffees secured one of the most memorable and potentially significant wins of recent times, giving everyone a sense of optimism as David Moyes’ side prepare to welcome Newcastle to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday evening.
The pessimism on display in last week’s preview was based on solid evidence, namely years of disappointment at stadiums such as Old Trafford (and disappointment in general).
It is not just the fans who feel that. It is also a stick widely used to beat Moyes with and feeds into a wider inferiority complex that Everton have been afflicted by when visiting the so-called ‘big six’.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Everton celebrates with teammate Iliman Ndiaye (obscured) after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Everton celebrates with teammate Iliman Ndiaye (obscured) after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Getty Images
One win won’t eradicate that, and this was a very poor United team, but hopefully it becomes the template. Everton’s win was based as much on pressing in advanced areas as it was on defending their own six-yard box.
The hope now is that result can generate momentum and help Everton nestle themselves firmly in the top half of the table. The league is still extremely tight, with one win or one defeat sending you spinning up or down, but it will start to break up into distinct chunks over the next few weeks as we head into winter.
All too often recently Everton have found themselves marooned at the bottom heading into the new year, raising the threat of relegation and inducing a sense of stress and panic. Anchor themselves higher up and all of a sudden there will be optimism in the air.
The opposition
Newcastle are having a strange season. They have won eight out of nine at St James’ Park in all competitions, with their only league defeats coming against Liverpool and Arsenal (both featuring stoppage-time winners) and Barcelona in the Champions League.
Away from the north-east, though, it is a different story. They have won just one of eight – against Union Saint-Gilloise in October – and have lost their last four, most recently a 2–1 defeat at Marseille on Tuesday, despite opening the scoring in three of those matches.
Eddie Howe seems at a loss as to how he can arrest such an imbalance – they have beaten the likes of Athletic Club and Manchester City at home, but lost to West Ham and Brentford away. Howe acknowledges that managing fatigue is a factor, something which hindered them during their previous Champions League campaign two years ago. To that end Everton might feel it is a good time to play the Magpies after their midweek exertions in France.
The Toffees have a decent recent record against Newcastle, winning two and drawing two of their last four meetings, most recently a 1–0 win on the final day of last season. The highlight of a 0–0 draw in the final game at Goodison was a missed penalty by Anthony Gordon, who is once again likely to get a feisty reception from the home fans - like Jordan Pickford will from the away section.
There won’t be any inflatable dinosaurs in the home end, though.
Previous meeting
Newcastle 0–1 Everton, 25 May 2025
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Carlos Alcaraz of Everton scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Everton FC at St James’ Park on May 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Carlos Alcaraz of Everton scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Everton FC at St James’ Park on May 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Charly Alcaraz’s goal earned Everton a deserved win on the final day of the season in May, ensuring they finished the campaign with three successive wins. Despite the defeat, Newcastle held onto a Champions League place thanks to Aston Villa’s defeat at Manchester United.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Michael Keane of Everton reacts towards Idrissa Gueye of Everton who slaps him and results in a red card from Referee Tony Harrington during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Michael Keane of Everton reacts towards Idrissa Gueye of Everton who slaps him and results in a red card from Referee Tony Harrington during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Everton will be without Idrissa Gueye following his blue-on-blue indiscretion with Michael Keane on Monday.
Merlin Rohl has also been ruled out until January after a minor hernia operation, leaving the Toffees short in midfield.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson remain out longer term.
Final word
Everton always seem to host Newcastle under the lights, and the Saturday evening TV slot should ensure a boisterous atmosphere. If the Toffees can prey on any tired Newcastle legs then they have a real chance. But despite their poor record on the road, the Magpies have enough in their armoury to get a result. My hunch is an entertaining score draw.