Everton FC's Jordan Pickford claims the high ball under pressure from Newcastle United's Dan Burn during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton at St. James's Park in Newcastle, United Kingdom, on May 25, 2025. (Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Newcastle United staggered over the line to clinch a Champions League place in front of watching chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Despite losing 1-0 to Everton and Jordan Pickford pulling out all the stops to try to dent Newcastle chances, the Magpies stumbled to Europe's top table by virtue of Manchester United's win at Old Trafford over Aston Villa. That was enough to book United's Champions League ticket and secure a £100m jackpot.
The Toon supremo though will not want to sit through another tense afternoon like this however and it is clear that a big summer of recruitment is required. Head coach Eddie Howe had hinted as much in the build-up to this game by underlining the fact that four departing players in the last 12 months had not been replaced.
But as the party started at St James' Park it should not be lost on what a magnificent season this has truly been for Newcastle and Howe. Lifting the club's first piece of silverware since 1969. Pickford was taunted as the game played out with a chant of: "Have you ever seen a Mackem in Milan."
Yet this was Newcastle's day despite the narrow loss that could have caused plenty of damage to the long-term project at St James' Park.
The Magpies started the game knowing a win would secure their place at Europe's top table. The two captains Bruno Guimaraes and Jordan Pickford went forward for the toss but it was the Wearsider who won and inevitably opted to turn things around with Newcastle attacking the Gallowgate End first.
United's first real goal attempt came on four minutes when Anthony Gordon tried to beat his England team-mate and former Goodison Park colleague from distance but sent his shot over the top. Everton settled into the game and had some brief openings with Carlos Alcaraz steering a low effort wide on 11 minutes.
If the first quarter of this game told us anything it was that Everton were not here for the day out. With David Moyes screaming orders and berating officials for 50-50 calls the Toffees were determined to make life as difficult as possible for Newcastle even if they could not improve their 13th place position.
As the game drifted past the 22 minute mark, Newcastle had not been able to get a grip of the game despite edging possession at 54%. Nick Pope would twice have his palms warmed by stinging Alcaraz shots as Everton tried to snatch the lead before the half hour mark.
With 24 minutes gone, Idrissa Gueye was booked for a foul on Sandro Tonali down the left-hand side but Newcastle failed to make the most of the free-kick. Moments later, Tino Livramento crossed from the left for Harvey Barnes but despite the ball falling for the £38million man he chested it clumsily and could not get a shot away.
Pickford made two massive saves on 30 minutes when beating away Tonali's fizzer from long range before Alexander Isak's follow up was also dealt with by the Wearsider. Botman was denied by Pickford soon after with the England stopper saving with his foot after two previous efforts from the ex-Ajax kid.
Fabian Schar was then booked on 37 minutes after Alcaraz broke past him and the Dutchman pulled him back by the arm. Newcastle had to rely on a fine save from Pope who kept out Alcaraz's header from Vitalii Mykolenko's cross.
After an anxious first half the two sides went in level but the other two games that mattered at the City Ground and Old Trafford were also goal-less.
Newcastle changed things up at the break with Joe Willock coming on for the ineffective Gordon and Howe reverting to a flat back four as he ditched the five-man rearguard. There was a nervous moment when Alcaraz skipped through with Pope needed to push the ball to safety on 52 minutes.
Seven minutes later, Jack Harrison sent an effort wide of the left-hand corner as Everton threatened once again. Just before the hour mark, Livramento clipped a cross in from the right, after switching flanks for the second half, and picked out Barnes, but he headed straight at Pickford.
The hour mark proved to be the turning point for another change of personnel as Kieran Trippier was summoned from a warm-up to be thrown into the action. Trippier replaced Botman with Livramento then moving back to the left-hand side for the second time in the afternoon.
But no sooner had Newcastle readjusted, Everton snatched the lead on 65 minutes. With Trippier pushing his way up the pitch Iliman N'Diaye charged at him before Mykolenko floated a cross in for Alcaraz who rose high to head home past Pope.
In his desperation to stop him Burn slipped in the box as Everton fans celebrated wildly in Level 7. The Everton fans continued to taunt Newcastle with chants about 'England's No 1' as Newcastle tried to find a way past Pickford.
With 20 minutes to go, Jacob Murphy was replaced by Callum Wilson.mA Trippier corner fell for Isak at the back post with 17 minutes left but he fired over at the Leazes End. At that stage, Newcastle were out of the Champions League places by virtue of goal difference with Aston Villa taking their place.
But with 13 minutes left it filtered around the ground that Man United had snatched the lead at Old Trafford to push Newcastle back into the box seat. Schar tried to wrestle matters back into Newcastle's own hands with a long range effort but it flew wide of the post.
Seconds later Barnes won a free-kick handing Newcastle the chance to level things up. Trippier whipped it with pace at Pickford but it was off target. A late miss by Schar and another save from Pickford to deny Bruno made for an intense finish to the contest.
But Newcastle are there, just! Bring on the big boys of Europe.
Referee: Tony Harrington (Hartlepool)
Attendance: 52,221