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Newcastle United player ratings v Everton: How Nick Woltemade, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon Sandro Tonali & co featured in our half-time player ratings.
The second of five successive home games for Newcastle United saw them take on Everton just days after they had defeated Qarabag in the Champions League.
Eddie Howe named six changes to his starting XI from that game for the visit of David Moyes’ side, including returns for Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey who missed out in midweek due to suspension and injury respectively. Those six changes may have contributed to a slow start by the hosts who struggled for possession early on.
A mistake by Thiaw as Newcastle United looked to build an attack offered Everton the chance to strike at goal, but Dwight McNeil could only lift his strike well above Nick Pope’s crossbar. Joelinton was first to have a go for United, but like McNeil before him, his effort was too high.
Everton then deservedly took the lead in the 20th minute when Jarrad Branthwaite flicked in a corner past a stranded Pope. Sandro Tonali, the man guilty of losing his opponent for the goal.
A tactical tweak by Howe saw Nick Woltemade shift into striker on the half hour mark paid immediate dividends as Ramsey equalised with a deflected effort over Jordan Pickford. However, the Toffees were immediately ahead again when Beto followed in a long range effort from McNeil to tap home past Pope who was at fault for spilling the tame effort from his one-time Burnley teammate.
The Magpies pushed for an equaliser before the break but couldn't test Pickford. Here are our half-time player ratings as Newcastle United trail 2-1 to Everton.
Newcastle United half-time player ratings v Everton
Nick Pope - 3
Read the game well in the early stages. Was majorly at fault for Beto’s goal - a real howler from the Magpies man and a disaster so soon after his side had got themselves back into the game.
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Kieran Trippier - 4
Like many of his teammates, Trippier was guilty of being sloppy on a number of occasions. Didn’t help his cause by putting in some poor deliveries from dead ball situations.
Malick Thiaw - 6
Sloppy in possession at times but dealt well with the physicality of Beto.
Dan Burn - 5
Made two good early headers but looked nervy throughout the first-half against Beto.
Lewis Hall - 6
Looked lively in attack and decent defensively, although he was caught flat-footed as Beto ghosted past him to equalise.
Jacob Ramsey - 7
Enjoyed a lot of early touches and was confident and positive with the ball. Was easily his side’s best player in the first-half and deserved a slice of luck for his goal.
Sandro Tonali - 5
Completed a lungbusting run to deny a promising Everton counter-attack on the quarter hour mark. Got caught behind Brathwaite for the opening goal.
Nick Woltemade - 5
Started the game in midfield. Sloppy in possession before being moved up-front in the 30th minute.
Anthony Elanga - 4
Looked lively but once again really struggled for any end product.
Anthony Gordon - 4
Started up front but had little influence in the game early on. Didn’t pull the trigger on a couple of occasions when the space opened up and misplaced a few passes for his teammates in promising positions. Very disappointing first-half.
Joelinton - 5
Started on the left wing. Shifted into midfield after 30 minutes but wasn’t able to influence the game in any way.
Unused substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Sven Botman,Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes, William Osula, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Alex Murphy, Leo Shahar
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