Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope's very different afternoons hammered home a major issue Newcastle must solve
Jordan Pickford of Everton celebrates vs Newcastle United
Jordan Pickford of Everton celebrates vs Newcastle United(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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The chant from the Everton fans was heard loud and clear. In the away end way up in level 7 and into the St James' Park concourse long after the full-time.
As us reporters sat inside the press room waiting to speak to Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, 'He hates the Geordies, he hates the s****, Jordan Pickford is dynamite' echoed through the walls.
And it is little wonder the England number one was the name at the tip of their tongues. His stoppage time save from a beautifully struck Sandro Tonali volley will be right up there in the conversation for the Premier League save of the season.
Not only in the context of the game, with Everton hanging on to a 3-2 lead at St James' Park, but the quality of the save, too. Pickford had no right to get his hand to the volley to tip it on to the crossbar but that is what he inexplicably managed to do.
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There was a collective sigh of astonishment inside St James' Park and a begrudging acceptance from Newcastle fans that the former Sunderland goalkeeper they love to hate had just pulled a save right out of the top drawer.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe could not believe it on the touchline. Everton manager David Moyes punched the air in delight before screaming his approval to his number one.
When Everton needed their goalkeeper most, he stepped up to the plate. Despite Newcastle being able to say the same for Nick Pope across the last three seasons, that has too frequently not been the case this term.
And his error that led to Everton's second goal, as he somehow pushed a tame Dwight McNeil effort back into danger and not away from it to hand Beto a tap in, was just another mistake in a season that has been beset by them.
Any debate over who is England's premier goalkeeper was quashed inside St James' Park. The problem for Newcastle is that Aaron Ramsdale failed to prove he is a better solution during Pope's injury absence.
The goalkeeper is the foundation of any team's success. When they start to concede soft goals more than they prevent them, it becomes a major issue.
Having started the season with five clean sheets in their first seven Premier League games, Newcastle have kept just two since. If that doesn't improve then they can kiss goodbye to any lingering hope of salvaging European qualification.
What has become absolutely clear is that a new goalkeeper has to be the ultimate priority for Newcastle in the summer transfer window. And it is a decision they simply must get right.
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