It’s a worrying time for Newcastle United fans at present. Not just the concerns over who is going to takeover the club, but they are sliding down the table and only two points above the bottom three. They face another tough home match as they take on an improving Everton side. The days earlier in the season when Newcastle United were fourth in the table seem fanciful memories now.
They’ve been struggling in the past few weeks and the last-gasp 3-2 defeat by Leicester on Saturday means they have now gone seven league games without a win and are 16th just a couple of points above the relegation zone. They have only earned a single point from those seven fixtures and with away games at Arsenal and West Ham followed by a home game against Manchester City, it looks as if their tough times are going to continue for a few weeks more.
Home form has always been important for Newcastle United with plenty of worries on their travels. They have lost their three home league games scoring just twice and conceding seven goals. Perhaps more worrying is that those three defeats came against Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester City. Of their 16 fixtures this season, only four have been against sides currently in the top six so they really should have more points than they have managed if they want to stay up this season.
Defence is another of their many worries with 15 goals conceded in the last five league games, conceding at least twice in each of them. Up front, they are struggling too with only six goals in their last seven league games and they are relying on Dwight Gayle to score for them with three in recent games. Whatever transfer budget Rafa Benitez is given in January he’s going to be a very busy guy.
Everton had a busy time in the summer transfer window and it’s only just starting to pay dividends. Their massive crisis seems to be over now as the 1-1 draw at Liverpool left them in 10th place in the Premier League table and six points above the bottom three that they so recently occupied.
They had been having their own defensive nightmares but after a run of conceding 16 goals in five league and cup games, the following four have seen them concede just once and there was little they could do about the latest great goal from Mohamed Salah. That’s a staggering turnaround in the matter of a few weeks.
The next big job that new boss Sam Allardyce has is to get an away league win. They beat Apollon Limassol in Sam’s absence, but 16 Premier League games have been played since they last won. After this fixture they have away games coming up against West Bromwich Albion and Bournemouth so the chances of an away win before the end of the year must be high. Everton have scored in their last eight league and cup games and with Rooney, Sigurðsson and Calvert-Lewin looking dangerous, they can create plenty of problems for the leaky Newcastle defence.
Conclusion
A relegation battle is looking likely for Newcastle unless they can get themselves out of this terrible run. Far too many goals are being conceded and they lack a top striker, poor Rafa can’t wait for that transfer window to open. Everton have made huge strides in recent weeks, both up front and particularly in defence. There are still worries about their away form but a bet on Everton to get the win looks a good one.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Newcastle United – LLDLL
Everton –DWWLD
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
03/02/16 – Everton 3 Newcastle United 0
26/12/15 – Newcastle United 0 Everton 1
15/03/15 – Everton 3 Newcastle United 0
28/12/14 – Newcastle United 3 Everton 2
25/03/14 – Newcastle United 0 Everton 2
- Everton have won six of their last seven games against Newcastle United.
- Everton have won three of their last four away games at Newcastle United.
- Newcastle have only earned one point from their last seven Premier League game.
- Newcastle United have lost their last three home Premier League games.
- Newcastle United have conceded at least twice in each of their last five league games.
- Everton are undefeated in their last three Premier League matches.
- Everton have kept three clean sheets in their last four league and cup games.
- Everton are yet to win an away game this season in the Premier League.
- Everton have gone 16 away Premier League games without a win.
- The last ten away Premier League games have seen Everton concede.