Two inconsistent sides face off in a crucial midweek battle.
The hosts are stuck in a serious rut, with just one win in their previous 10 league matches – ironically enough, against the visiting Magpies. Their most recent outing was perhaps the most disappointing of the lot, shooting themselves in the foot to concede defeat against relegation threatened Swansea City, 2-1.
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Everton will be buoyed by the addition of deadline day signing Oumar Niasse, however, who promises to inject fresh legs into a stretched attack that looked to be tiring under a heavy workload.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s form has been Jekyll and Hyde. The Toon succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at Watford last matchday after defeating West Ham by the same scoreline a week prior. Looking even further back, the Magpies clinched a late 3-3 home draw with struggling yet defensively tight Manchester United.
Newcastle too completed some decent January business, signing Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend as well as Seydou Doumbia on deadline day, on loan from AS Roma.
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To say this match is a must-win for both sides is an understatement. Newcastle are entrenched in the bottom three, two points behind 17th-placed Norwich and are fighting to stave off relegation.
Everton, meanwhile, are stuck in 12th, but, incredibly, a spot propping up the top 10 is up for grabs if they can prevail.
Key Battle – Ross Barkley vs Georginio Wijnaldum
Who will create more?
Barkley has seven assists and six goals this Premier League campaign as well as an excellent League Cup goal against Manchester City and one in the FA Cup at Carlisle. He has been in sparkling form, very much the fulcrum of Everton’s attacking play.
Similarly, his opposite number Wijnaldum is the critical centrepoint of the Toon’s forward movement. They have not lost when he has scored, a feat achieved nine times including that dazzling four-piece in Newcastle’s 6-2 thumping of Norwich.
With two porous defences, the battle of these two creators could determine who is able to break through and secure the three points.
Team News
Everton will have to make do without Mo Besic (hamstring) and Kevin Mirallas (knee). That should open the door for James McCarthy to return to the starting lineup, with either of Gerard Deulofeu or Aaron Lennon likeliest to replace the Belgian.
Tim Howard faces a late fitness test to prove his fitness and, should he not come up, Joel Robles is the natural replacement.
Seamus Coleman is expected to start after playing 83 minutes against Carlisle in the FA Cup. Some conjecture surrounds John Stones, too. He was substituted against Manchester City, albeit having performed at right-back rather than in the centre, and his position is under pressure from the in-form Ramiro Funes Mori. Niasse is not included in the provisional squad.
Newcastle could regain Jack Colback and new boys Doumbia and Townsend are strong chances of featuring at Goodison. Despite that, Steve McClaren is still missing a number of others including Papiss Cisse, Tim Krul and Vurnon Anita.
Paul Dummett missed the Watford clash but should return, quite possibly in place of Rolando Aarons.
Head-to-Head
Everton just nudge the head-to-head in this fixture, holding 62 wins versus Newcastle’s 60, with 32 draws in between.
Previous Meeting
These teams last met at St James’ Park on Boxing Day, with Everton emerging 1-0 winners after a late winner off the head of Tom Cleverley.
Prediction
This is a fixture both teams must win, for very different reasons. Roberto Martinez is facing a huge deal of scrutiny and must approach this one with a sense of favouritism; Everton are hosting a team that has lost eight times on the road in the league this season.
Should Newcastle score early, this could be enough. Goodison Park is a place on edge and if the natives become restless, the away side could find some joy.
One thing is certain though: goals. After all, it’s Everton we are talking about.
Everton 3 Newcastle United 2
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