Our last game of February before we enter a mad March, and it’s a big one.
Our midweek win over Qarabag sets up a Champions League clash with Barcelona in the last 16, but this weekend sees us return to Premier League action at St James’ Park for the first time since that dismal 3-2 defeat to Brentford three weeks ago.
As far as our European hopes via the Premier League are concerned, the next few days will be huge. With Everton and Man Utd to come, and us currently four points behind Brentford in seventh and nine points away from Chelsea (5th) and Liverpool (6th), a run of wins in the league feels absolutely essential to close the gap.
We’ve won four of our last five in all competitions and the team have regrouped brilliantly, but with just on win in our last six league games, including four defeats in our last five, our domestic form has to pick up: especially at St James’ Park.
Speaking to the media on Friday morning ahead of the match, Eddie Howe said:
“It is amazing to be back at home. We have to build our rhythm back at St. James’ Park. Tuesday was a result we definitely needed, and we want to get our home form back to its best.”
“I have seen a good response from everybody… there is a really good feeling between the players. The feeling is really high. The most important thing for us now is to look forward.”
“It is a big game for us. Everton have done well on their travels – their away form has been good. David’s teams are always difficult to score against. Our attacking play has to be really good and our defensive mentality has to improve.”
Jacob Ramsey should return to the squad after a tight hamstring kept him out in midweek, but Lewis Miley is expected to be out for a few more weeks.
Tino Livramento is getting closer, and he’s due back in full training next week, while Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth remain out.
For Everton, they are without Jack Grealish, who looks set to miss the rest of the campaign, but wide man Iliman Ndiaye will be one to watch after causing us problems in this fixture last season.
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
OUT: Ramsdale, Botman, A Murphy, J Murphy, Osula.
IN: Pope, Hall, Ramsey, Elanga, Gordon.
This will be a tough test. Everton have only lost one of their last nine away games from home, beating Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Man Utd to nil.
I’m expecting a physical, tight game and the Toffees to sit deep, testing our ability to break down a low block without Bruno. But I think we’ll rally and find a way, knowing a win would take us above Everton and keep our faint top five hopes alive.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Everton
Howay the lads!
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