Everton are beating Newcastle United 2-0 at half-time in the pre-season friendly match at Murrayfield.
Thierno Barry and an Iliman Ndiaye penalty put the Toffees in a strong position heading in at the break against their Premier League counterparts.
It’s Newcastle and Matthias Jaissle’s first taste of Premier League opposition this summer ahead of the 2026/27 season opener against Liverpool in 11 days.
Thierno Barry of Everton is challenged by Joelinton of Newcastle United during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on August 12, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Thierno Barry of Everton is challenged by Joelinton of Newcastle United during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on August 12, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
But it’s been a bruising summer for Newcastle on the back of a disappointing 12th place finish in the league last season. The club have sold Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, captain Bruno Guimaraes and seen Eddie Howe resign as head coach. New boss Jaissle was confirmed just three weeks before the start of the new competitive season.
Subscribe to our Newcastle United newsletter for all the news straight to your inbox
Despite an encouraging start to his Newcastle tenure with a positive week in Spain capped with a 2-1 friendly win over Valencia, Jaissle and his side were in for a different test at Murrayfield against Everton.
Despite controlling the opening exchanges, Newcastle were punished for a defensive error as Barry drilled the ball into the bottom right corner to give Everton the lead. Shortly after, Joelinton fouled Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall inside the penalty area, and Iliman Ndiaye converted to make it 2-0 before the break.
The second goal prompted chants from the Everton supporters of ‘going down, going down, going down’ mocking Newcastle’s performance and current predicament. For a side who played Champions League football last season and won the Carabao Cup just over a year ago, a relegation battle doesn’t bear thinking about before a ball has even been kicked.
But after successive summers of upheaval and transfer frustration, Jaissle is well aware of the challenge he faces, admitting a season of transition was ahead. His immediate task will be to help his side turn things around in the second half.