Premier League: Goodison Can Be Everton’s Foundation

Everton vs Newcastle United

What a difference a Premier League win can make.

After a dismal start to the season, including a woeful showing at Spurs and a collapse at home to Bournemouth which was scarcely believable, the natives around the blue half of Merseyside were getting restless.

Indeed, some of the doom mongers were also beginning to question the manager Sean Dyche, who did such a fine job amidst unprecedented circumstances last term.

Now, one swallow doesn’t make a summer, and I’m unconvinced that Dyche is even the man to lead Everton back to where they want to be (should the financial outlook improve and more stability arrives at a club which is set to move to a new £800 million stadium in less than a year from now).

But after a set of Premier League 2024 highlights from a player Dyche brought to Goodison Park, things are now looking a little rosier.

 

Talking Points

With all that in mind, why can’t Evertonians be confident of securing back-to-back home wins when they welcome Newcastle to town?

After failing to hold onto leads in three successive encounters, they claimed their first three points of the campaign last weekend courtesy of a superb double from Dwight McNeil, plus a second-half transformation.

McNeil caught Crystal Palace cold with a stunning equaliser two minutes after the restart and the Eagles, who had dominated the first half, did not recover.

Everton, better organised, harder working, and more resilient, produced the first comeback victory of Dyche’s reign (despite shipping another set-piece goal), sealed the points and the mood was a happier one.

A first appearance of the season for Jarrad Branthwaite also pointed to a much-needed defensive improvement.

They will need a repeat of that resoluteness against the Geordies, who have plenty of attacking firepower in their armoury.

Newcastle are coming off their best performance of the season, a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, and a narrow League Cup win in midweek over spirited League Two side AFC Wimbledon.

The margin of victory may have been just a goal, but Newcastle monopolised the possession and chances against their opponents in a relatively low-key match.

Bruno Guimarães, former Toffee Anthony Gordon, and Sandro Tonali were among the substitutes in that game and are expected to return to the starting line-up for the Saturday teatime encounter, as is Alexander Isak who was given the night off completely.

Newcastle will begin the contest as favourites, but now with Everton up and running, you write them off at your peril when the Goodison roar gets going.

 

History

Newcastle have won 71 of the meetings between these two famous football institutions, Everton have enjoyed 76 triumphs, and there have been a further 37 draws.

That included their most recent meeting in April when a late Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty earned the Toffees a 1-1 draw on Tyneside after Isak had put the Geordies in front.

Everton had turned on the style in the game on Merseyside in December when a tight game for the most part ended in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for the hosts – Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Beto scoring in the final 11 minutes.

It was an impressive display and scoreline, as the hosts climbed out of the bottom three for the first time since being docked points for breaching financial regulations.

Everton have only won two of their last nine clashes and last won at St. James Park in December 2019 when Carlo Ancelotti was in charge and Calvert-Lewin netted twice in a 2-1 success.

Fabian Schar replied for Newcastle.

 

Betting Tip

The visitors have the edge, but it’s not by too much as Goodison can be a difficult place to go.

With the SBOTOP Premier League 2024 betting odds, you can back the Toon Army to come away with all three points, both 1X2 @ 2.14 and Asian Handicap -0.50, also @ 2.14.

Or is it home comforts all the way with an Everton success paying out in a number of ways, such as 1X2 @ 2.94 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.01 and 0.00 @ 2.47.

A re-run of what ended being a one-sided scoreline from 10 months ago is on offer with Correct Score 3-0 @ 46.00, and then there’s goals, which include Over 3.25 @ 2.29, Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.01 and 4-6 @ 2.59.

Very few are expecting a low-scoring affair judging by Total Goal 0-1 being offered @ 3.79.

I don’t think it will be a low scoring affair either, but I do think it will be close.

   

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