Newcastle United will look to get back to winning ways when they host Everton at St. James’ Park tomorrow.
The Magpies suffered a 0-2 defeat against West Ham United in their last match which came after a run of a draw and two wins in their last three matches. Even though Everton are in a good moment themselves after a 3-0 win over Cardiff City followed by a closely contested 0-0 draw against Liverpool, Rafa Benitez will bank on his team’s recent home form to make things difficult for the visitors.
But their recent history against Everton in the Premier League does not bode well for the Toon army. Newcastle have lost 5 of their last 6 games in the English top-flight against their next opponents scoring just a single goal in a 1-1 draw which came last year.
It certainly will be a challenging ask for Rafa and his boys to turn things around but not something which is in any way beyond them.
TEAM NEWS
NEWCASTLE UNITED
The in-form Sean Longstaff will miss out and he will join Rob Elliot and Ciaran Clarke on the sidelines.
EVERTON
Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines have been ruled out by Marko Silva who, other than them, will have a fit squad to choose from.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
NEWCASTLE UNITED (5-4-1)
Dubravka; Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune; Ritchie; Perez, Diame, Hayden, Almiron; Rondon
EVERTON (4-2-3-1)
Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin
KEY MEN
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Salomon Rondon has scored twice and assisted twice in the Premier League this calendar year but will be keen to improve on his end product. His physique and his aerial ability will make it difficult for Zouma and Keane during corners and it is something Benitez will look at exploiting.
EVERTON
Despite the presence of the likes of Richarlison and Bernard, Gylfi Sigurdsson remains the best creative outlet for Everton. His control and poise in the advanced midfield areas and in the final third will come in useful. His set-piece prowess and the fact he scored a brace against Cardiff recently will play on the minds of the Newcastle defence.
PREDICTION
Newcastle 1-2 Everton
Even though Newcastle are at home, where their form has been excellent lately, Everton with their quality and the momentum generated from their morale-boosting draw against Liverpool last weekend might prove to be too much to overcome for the Magpies.
