Two Premier League teams at opposites ends of the table seeking to build on victories secured last weekend will lock horns at Goodison Park on Thursday night as Everton play host to Newcastle United.
While the Toffees claimed a slender 1-0 away win over Nottingham Forest last Saturday, the Magpies beat Manchester United by the same scoreline on home soil just a few hours later.
Match preview
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Following a dismal end to November in which the club were deducted 10 points by the Premier League for financial irregularities before suffering a bruising 3-0 home defeat to Man United, Everton picked themselves up and claimed three valuable points in a hard-fought win over Forest last weekend.
A superb second-half strike from Dwight McNeil, his first of the campaign, gave the Toffees their fifth league win of the campaign, as well as their third in a row away from home, and it also helped them to climb off the foot of the table and up to 18th place, just three points behind 17th-placed Luton who lost 4-3 against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Sean Dyche labelled Everton's win over Forest as a "restart" for the club heading into a busy festive schedule of seven fixtures to conclude 2023, with three of their next four games at Goodison Park where they have somewhat surprisingly picked up just four of their 17 Premier League points so far this season.
Everton have in fact won only two of their last 12 home matches under Dyche – both against Bournemouth – and their hopes of claiming maximum points on Thursday are slim as the Toffees have lost five of their last six Premier League meetings with Newcastle.
Dyche's men have also lost their last four games played in midweek and have conceded four goals in each of their last three such fixtures, including the heavy 4-1 home defeat to the Magpies in April.
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Despite being plagued with injuries, Newcastle United can take pride from their recent run of results over an eight-day period, as they picked up maximum points in Premier League wins over Chelsea and Man United either side of a controversial Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain.
Anthony Gordon was on the scoresheet in both of those victories in the top flight, netting his most recent strike in the second half of last Saturday's slender triumph over the Red Devils at St James' Park to increase his goal tally to seven since joining the club from Thursday's opponents Everton in January.
Following a challenging start to the campaign, Eddie Howe's side have won seven of their last 10 Premier League matches and have climbed to sixth in the table, just one point behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur – who they face in North London on Sunday – and three behind Aston Villa in fourth.
While Newcastle have excelled on home soil this term, losing just two games out of 11 games at St James' Park, the Magpies have struggled to grind out positive results on the road, as they have only won three of their last 15 away matches in all competitions dating back to the middle of April – the aforementioned 4-1 triumph at Everton took place during this run, though.
Newcastle have won each of their last three midweek fixtures by an aggregate score of 13-3, and success on Thursday would see them claim back-to-back league victories at Goodison Park for the first time since a run of three between 1958 and 1960.
Team News
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Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is doubtful with a calf problem and is set to be assessed ahead of kickoff, but Amadou Onana, Andre Gomes (both calf) and Dele Alli (groin) remain in the treatment room.
The potential absence of Calvert-Lewin will likely see summer signing Beto – who is yet to score for the Toffees in nine Premier League outings – lead the line, with support provided in attack by McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jack Harrison.
Seamus Coleman has watched on as an unused substitute in Everton's last two games following a seven-month spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, and the Irishman is set to battle with Nathan Patterson and Ashley Young for a start at right-back.
As for Newcastle, Nick Pope is facing between four and five months out after dislocating his shoulder in last weekend's win over Man United, so Martin Dubravka is set for regular starts between the sticks ahead of the January transfer window when the Magpies may look to recruit a new shot-topper amid reported interest in David de Gea and Aaron Ramsdale.
Pope is the latest name to join a packed treatment room including Sven Botman (knee), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Joe Willock (Achilles), Sean Longstaff (ankle), Callum Wilson, Matt Targett (both hamstring), Elliot Anderson, Dan Burn (both back), Harvey Barnes (foot) and Javi Manquillo (groin).
Gordon has emerged as a doubt after coming off against Man United with a knock, but the attacker has since been pictured in first-team training and should be fit to start in the front three with Miguel Almiron and Alexander Isak.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, McNeil; Beto
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Livramento; Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
We say: Everton 0-2 Newcastle United
Only Sheffield United (11) and Crystal Palace (14) have scored fewer Premier League goals than Everton (15) this season, and while a solitary goal was enough to claim maximum points at Forest last time out, they will need to up their game in the final third if they wish to breach a robust Newcastle outfit, who have kept the joint-most clean sheets (six) at this stage.
The Toffees have been a favourable opponent for the Magpies in recent years and despite the visitors' mounting injury troubles, we believe that Howe still has enough quality at his disposal to steer his side to another victory at Goodison Park.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
