Newcastle United return to Premier League action in the 5:30pm kick-off on Saturday as they take on Everton at Goodison Park.
This should be the final time the two sides play at Goodison Park in the Premier League with Everton’s new Bramley Moore Dock stadium set to open for next season.
Newcastle finally started to look like a proper team in their last Premier League fixture as they drew 1-1 with Manchester City. It had been a tough season up to that game in terms of watching the Magpies play. The results were there for the most part, but the performances before City were awful.
Tuesday’s game against Wimbledon won’t live long in the memory but after Eddie Howe made eight changes to the side, it’s hardly surprising. Newcastle will be hoping for a Man City-esque type display on Saturday which should see them win comfortably against a struggling Everton side.
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Anthony Gordon makes his return to Goodison Park on Saturday
Paul Merson can’t separate the two sides
The Toffees are coming into this off the back of their first league win, however and as such Paul Merson has written in Sportskeeda that he’s expecting a close game.
“Newcastle are a funny team because I think they’re fortunate to have the points they already have this season. Everton steadies their ship with a good win over Crystal Palace last weekend. So there’s not much pressure on them now compared to the previous weeks. That helps Everton more than you think and it could be a huge boost for them.
“If they click, Newcastle are a very dangerous team. But the problem is that I don’t know if they’ll turn up like that on the pitch. It’s actually the same for both teams here, you don’t know what you’re going to get from them. That’s exactly why I’m going for a draw here.
“If both teams play to the best of their abilities, then Newcastle will win. I’m not sure that’ll be the case here though, a draw looks more likely with both teams finding the back of the net.
“Prediction: Everton 1-1 Newcastle”
Paul Merson has got a point about Newcastle needing to click
Without Alexander Isak on the pitch we’re not sure how ‘dangerous’ Newcastle are, but Anthony Gordon is always a threat no matter what position he’s playing in now that he seems to have finally woken up this season.
We see where Merson is coming from when he says ‘if they click’ because Newcastle have looked disjointed at times this season, and other than the heavy defeat against Fulham, they have fluked their results. However that game definitely seemed to serve as a wake-up call.
Everton may have grabbed themselves a win against Crystal Palace but they’ve hardly been great this season either so it’s hard to really say that’s going to be their kickstarter for the season. Newcastle should win this one comfortably – but it’s never that simple, is it?
