Newcastle Aiming for Top Half Finish
The Premier League action concludes on Monday night this week, with a match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park.
The Toffees start this match in 9th place in the Premier League, with 42 points to their name. the highest they can hope to finish now is 8th, a position currently occupied by Leicester City.
However, Everton’s position in 9th is coming under pressure from Newcastle United, who are just 1 point and a single place behind them in the league table. A win in this match for Rafa Benitez’s team would see them move above Everton, with a game in hand.
This season has been a disappointment for Everton fans, who were hoping for a good run in the Europa League and to push the top four in the Premier League. Neither have materialised and Everton are left to battle it out in mid-table, with no European football to look forward to next season.
However, there has been an improvement in recent results for Everton and they have lost just one of their last five Premier League games. The defeat came at the hands of champions Manchester City and there have been wins over Brighton and Hove Albion and Stoke City, with draws against Liverpool and Swansea City.
At home, Everton have won three of their last five games, defeating Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion. However, despite only losing two of their last eight at Goodison Park, those three games are the only wins Everton have managed since the 23rd December 2017.
Newcastle United recorded an excellent 2-1 win over Arsenal at St James’ Park on the weekend to make it four wins in a row in the Premier League.
In addition to the win over Arsenal, Newcastle have defeated Southampton and Huddersfield Town at home and Leicester City on the road. The Toon have conceded just 2 goals across those four games and have scored 2 or more goals in three of them.
Trends show Newcastle have lost only one of their last nine Premier League games and the defeat came at Liverpool. Away from home, Newcastle have lost one of their last four league matches, picking up the win at Leicester City and drawing with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
Newcastle have conceded in each of their last six away Premier League games but have scored in three of the last four.
Team news and Everton will be without the injured trio of Eliaquim Mangala, James McCarthy and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Bene Baningime, Ramiro Funes Mori, Tom Davies and Nikola Vlasic will all be hoping to get a start in this game.
Newcastle are at full strength and have no injuries or suspensions to worry about heading into this match. Benitez will be tempted to stick with the starting XI from the win over Arsenal, meaning Dwight Gayle will start up-front with support from Ayoze Perez.
This is a tough match to call and Newcastle will arrive at Goodison full of confidence, making them a dangerous opponent and could leave with a point, thanks to a draw with both teams scoring.
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