Newcastle were beaten 3-2 at home by Everton with serious questions being asked of the Magpies' home form
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe cut a frustrated figure on the touchline during Newcastle's defeat to Everton
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe cut a frustrated figure on the touchline during Newcastle's defeat to Everton(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Newcastle United fell to a disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to Everton as their dire Premier League form continued.
The Magpies twice came from behind to level the game through goals from Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy but goals from Jarrad Branthwaite, Beto and Thierno Barry ensured the Toffees left Tyneside with a crucial three points.
It was a woeful performance from Newcastle in truth but they almost stole a point at the end of the game only for Jordan Pickford to somehow touch a Sandro Tonali volley on to the crossbar in stoppage time in one of the saves of the season.
Here are five things we learned from a dire Newcastle loss to Everton.
Defensive woes cannot be ignored
By Eddie Howe's own admission, Newcastle self-imploded. Twice the Magpies got back into the game and twice they fell behind again within a minute.
First Nick Pope somehow parried the ball into Beto's path from a harmless Dwight McNeil effort after Ramsey levelled the game at 1-1. Then Anthony Gordon gifted Everton possession less than a minute after Jacob Murphy made it 2-2. Kieran Dewsbury-Hall advanced with the ball and rolled the ball into Barry's path as he bundled the ball home.
Both goals were inexcusable and Newcastle have now only kept two clean sheets since in the Premier League since the October 5 win over Nottingham Forest on Tyneside.
Howe admitted Newcastle have to reverse that trend, and quickly. But the rate Newcastle are shipping goals, there are genuine fears that horse may well have bolted.
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Woltemade confusion as Howe call backfires
Alan Shearer said pre-match that Newcastle look a better team with Gordon playing as a central striker. That is a damning indictment of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, for whom Newcastle paid a collective £124million to sign in the summer.
As Gordon started up front again, Woltemade continued in midfield but he looked haplessly lost in that role on Saturday afternoon. Joelinton was just as ineffective on the left-wing.
It was no coincidence when all three players switched to their natural positions on the half hour mark, Newcastle almost immediately scored an equaliser.
Howe's team selection backfired and off the back of a positive run of results it felt like Newcastle's momentum was needlessly stunted.
What Newcastle now do with their German international forward, who last scored in the Premier League in December, remains to be seen.
Worrying first under Eddie Howe
Newcastle's defeat to Everton was their third successive home defeat in the Premier League - a first under Howe's tenure. If St James' Park was once deemed a fortress, it is anything but that for the Magpies right now.
They have now lost five of their last six Premier League matches, too, and it has left them in an unimaginable position in the Premier League table.
European hopes drifting away
Defeat to Everton saw David Moyes' side move four points clear of Newcastle in eighth place, in what is expected to be enough to qualify for the Europa Conference League next season.
In a season where Champions League qualification was the aim, Newcastle are not only at risk at missing out on European football altogether but missing out on a top half finish.
United are 12th in the table, one point below rivals Sunderland, and could end the weekend as low as 14th. That is simply unacceptable for this group of players.
Everton record sums up issue
Everton have now recorded successive wins over Newcastle at St James' Park for the first time in 12 years. Everton also have the second best away record in the Premier League since Moyes was appointed in January last year.
Newcastle's away record has been dreadful this season. Now their home record is following suit.
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