Newcastle vs. Everton: Preview and betting tips

Who would have expected before the season that Newcastle’s February match with Everton would be a relegation battle. The two teams are currently separated by only four points and the name-laden Everton are in trouble. What to expect from the game?

Newcastle have picked themselves up after the New Year, not having lost in the last three rounds, yet they remain second to last in the table. But it’s even at the bottom of the competition, one point behind the non-relegation places with one game to spare.

Everton, on the other hand, are under the blanket. From the beginning of the season it looked like a fight for Europe, now the Toffees are in sixteenth place and it looks like a rescue mission. They are four points clear of the relegation zone.

Allan Saint-Maximin, one of the best dribblers in the competition, has scored five goals and assisted three. Two sound reinforcements came into the defensive line in the winter, right back Kieran Trippier and stopper Dan Burn will take the Magpies defence up a level.

Brazilian Richarlison is coming into decent form, he currently has four league goals and two assists. Summer signing Demarai Gray has unexpectedly caught on and has been on seven Premier League goals (5+2).

Everton, despite a name-laden attack, are not scoring goals, only scoring more than one goal in one of their last five games.

That could break against Newcastle, who have the second worst defensive record in the league. Only Norwich (45) have scored more goals than Eddie Howe’s charges (43).

Considering the high FA Cup win, I think a motivated Everton will win at least one half.