Newcastle vs Everton preview
Watch match highlights at 5.15pm on Saturday on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app
Monday 30 December 2019 12:02, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Newcastle vs Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Team news
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce will be hoping Paul Dummett recovers from a groin problem in time for the visit of Everton. The Wales international missed the Boxing Day loss at Manchester United with the issue that he picked up last weekend in the win against Crystal Palace.
Jetro Willems overcame a knee injury to start in his place at Old Trafford and Bruce has some knocks to assess in the wake of that match. Jamaal Lascelles (fractured tibia) and Ciaran Clark (calf) remain out along with Matt Ritchie (ankle), Ki Sung-Yueng (illness) and Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring).
New Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to make changes as he prepares for his second match in charge just 48 hours after winning his first.
Midfielders Theo Walcott and Tom Davies and defenders Michael Keane and Leighton Baines, who were all on the bench for the victory over Burnley, will come into contention. Alex Iwobi (thigh) and Morgan Schneiderlin (calf) continue to be absent.
How to follow
Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Opta stats
- Newcastle came from 0-2 down to win this exact fixture 3-2 last season - they've not won back-to-back league games against Everton since December 2002 (three).
- Everton have won four of their last six Premier League away games against Newcastle (L2), having won just three of their first 18 visits to St James' Park in the competition (D4 L11).
- Newcastle have won just one of their previous 14 final Premier League games in a calendar year (excluding campaigns in which they were relegated), with their sole victory in that time coming against Everton in 2014 (D2 L11).
- Everton haven't won their final Premier League game of a calendar year since 2013 (2-1 vs Southampton), losing four and drawing once since.
- Newcastle are unbeaten in their last eight home Premier League games
Charlie's prediction
It was a bit of a reality check for Newcastle at Old Trafford. They have been very consistent, which is why they are where they are in the table, but I do not know if it will be the same for them in the second half of the season. Everton will have been delighted to get a winning start under Carlo Ancelotti, who remained calm and showed no real emotion after the win over Burnley.
I cannot separate these two sides, Newcastle tried to play out from the back against Man Utd and got punished, so they need to get back to the basics. Steve Bruce will not want it to be pretty, he just wants points, so the happier they will all be after another one here.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
