Aaron Ramsdale of Newcastle United embraces with Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)placeholder image
Aaron Ramsdale of Newcastle United embraces with Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everton 1-4 Newcastle United: Eddie Howe made six changes to his side as they picked up their first Premier League away win of the season.
A Malick Thiaw brace, plus goals from Lewis Miley and Nick Woltemade put The Magpies 4-0 up and cruising to their first Premier League away win of the season before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall netted a consolation goal for The Toffees heading into the closing stages.
The win came after Howe made six changes to his side in what had shaped up to be his most scrutinised starting line-up of the season. The build-up to the match was dominated by calls for Nick Pope to be replaced by Aaron Ramsdale in goal.
Howe had hinted in Friday’s press conference that he would be reluctant to change his goalkeeper but that decision was taken out of his hands when Pope pulled up in training with a groin injury.
Ahead of the game, Howe said: “Nick Pope felt something in his groin in training, and it was painful enough for him not to travel. He'll go for a scan in the next few days.
“Physically, the two games we've had have been big, with travel and late nights, so I've tried to keep the team fresh. We want to focus on climbing the table, and today is pivotal."
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Would Nick Pope have started if fit for NUFC?
While arguably Howe’s most scrutinised team selection decision of the season, we’ll never know whether Pope would have indeed started at Everton if he was fit and available to play.
When asked about whether the decision was taken out of his hands, Howe said: “Good try! That's something for me to know.
“Nick, we're disappointed to lose him. We can't afford to lose any player. He suffered an injury just towards the end of training.
“I didn't name the team yesterday. So we were just training as normal and he just, I think, wrong-footed on a shot and just felt something in his groin more after training than sort of in that moment.
“And, yes, I hope he's not out for long. We need him back. He'll have a scan in the next few days to find the damage.”
Aaron Ramsdale impresses on Newcastle United full Premier League debut
Ramsdale put in a solid display on his first league start for Newcastle, making a stunning save to claw the ball away off the line.
“Nick and Aaron are very different goalkeepers,” Howe added. “They've got different strengths. Still very effective, both of them.
“And Aaron, I think, showed his qualities with the ball at his feet today. He distributed the ball very well. It wasn't overly worked, necessarily, in terms of shots, but what he did have to handle it.
“I thought he did well. I don't think he'd do much with the goal. So I think it's a good day for him and for the back four in front of him. Just a good day for the team in general, really.”
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