Premier League preview: Newcastle United vs Everton

Feb 07, 2022

Premier League preview: Newcastle United vs Everton Image

Newcastle United will play Everton in the Premier League on Tuesday, 8 February, at St James Park. Kick-off is at 7.45 pm local time.

A lot of things have happened since these teams were last in league action.

Newcastle have added Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, fullback Matt Target, and Dan Burn to their squad, joining Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood among the January arrivals at the North-East.

Everton were also busy on deadline day. They brought in Anwar El Ghazi from Aston Villa and Donny van de Beek from Manchester United on loan, whilst Dele Alli was signed from Spurs on a permanent deal.

Arguably the biggest change made by the Merseyside club was in the dugout, with Frank Lampard replacing the sacked Rafa Benitez.

However,  for all the changes, the situation of both clubs remains the same. Newcastle are still mired in the relegation places, whilst Everton are still dangerously near the bottom.

Knocked out of the FA Cup by lowly Cambridge United, Newcastle have not played since gaining a morale-boosting away win at Leeds on 22 January.

Lampard, meanwhile, got his new reign off to a successful start, beating Brentford 4-1 on Saturday to progress to the fourth round.

On the same day, Burnley and Watford are playing out a goalless draw at Turf Moor, allowing the Hertfordshire side to leapfrog Newcastle in the table, whilst Burnley are now two points adrift, but with two games in hand.

Both will have to hope for the new additions to be enough to turn their season around, as there are now no more excuses.

Newcastle, in particular, will be aware that home games against sides immediately around them are where they need to target all three points, whereas Lampard will be disparate to maintain the feel-good factor. 

The mood of Everton supporters has been mutinous of late. It will not take many bad results before the now man started to come in for the same abuse as his predecessors.

Prediction

This match appears to have all the ingredients for a draw. Newcastle may tarry to integrate all the new signings, while Lampard will not want to lose his first game away from Goodison Park.

It will be close, and not necessarily entertaining.