Venue: St. James’ Park
Date: 13/12/2017
Kick-off: 15:00 (BST)
Everton travel to St. James’ Park to square off against Newcastle United on Wednesday evening and the Toffees will be looking to continue their good run of form by claiming another good result against the struggling Magpies.
Following a terrible start to the season, there is a feel good factor surrounding Goodison Park once again and to further lift the spirits of the fans, Everton managed an improbable 1-1 draw against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby last weekend.
Now Sam Allardyce’s men travel to the Northeast to square off against Newcastle United this weekend and it will be interesting to see if the Merseysiders are able to pile more misery on the hapless Magpies.
Everton Team News
Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori, James McCarthy and Ross Barkley all remain sidelined but as a positive, Yannick Bolasie is currently working his way back to full fitness.
Nonetheless, all of the aforementioned players look set to miss out the clash against Newcastle and there is a possibility that Allardyce could stick with the same starting lineup that featured against Liverpool – given their fine performance during the clash.
Jordan Pickford is a certainty to start in goal while the defence could once again consist of Jonjoe Kenny, Ashley Williams, Cuco Martina and Mason Holgate. That said, Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka are also in contention as they were rested against Liverpool.
In midfield, the trio of Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies and Wayne Rooney are expected to start while the wide areas will be occupied by Aaron Lennon and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Young Dominic Calvert-Lewin has done a fantastic job in leading the line for Everton and he will continue to do so against Newcastle as well.
Probable Lineups
Newcastle United (Probable XI): Elliot; Manquillo, Lejeune, Lascelles, Yedlin; Merino, Hayden, Ritchie, Joselu, Atsu; Gayle
Everton (Probable XI): Pickford; Cuco Martina, Holgate, Williams, Kenny; Gueye, Rooney, Davies; Sigurdsson, Lennon, Calvert-Lewin
Last Meeting
03/02/2016 Everton 3 – 0 Newcastle United
26/12/2015 Newcastle United 0 – 1 Everton
Prediction
Everton have grabbed six victories in their previous seven encounters against Newcastle United and while times have changed since their last meeting, one can consider the away side favourites for the clash.
Newcastle have lost six of their last seven Premier League matches while Everton have picked up seven points from a possible nine since the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager and although it will be a tight game, expect the Toffees to claim all three points on the evening.
Newcastle United 1 – 2 Everton
